Making A Fist (Mentor Text A)

Making A Fist is a personal story, a short poem about Nye’s life, recalling her experience as the daughter of a Palestinian refugee. The poem has a hardened feeling, one whose narrator has experienced some difficult scenarios. The poem is meant to express what it was like for her as a child but also what it would be like for a refugee child. It seems to be directed at those who have also had difficulties, however, this poem is also meant for those who could not imagine what it would be like to flee from one’s country, hopefully giving them a better understanding of what it is like, as well as possibly inspiring some empathy for any other refugees. It seems that Nye was recalling her childhood and that prompted the writing of the poem, however the Syrian refugee crisis could also have inspired her to write.