The Poet X Major and Minor Quotes

“When your body takes up more room than your voice you are always the target of . . . rumors.” (Part I)

—Xiomara

Analysis: Throughout The Poet X, Xiomara struggles with her body and the feeling that no one is listening to her. She has always been big—bigger than Twin—and feels she has developed female curves too early. This has caused her to be harassed by men, which she is led to believe is her own fault. Because of this, Xiomara has learned that, instead of words, she can make herself heard through her fists. Rather than asking for help, Xiomara fights those who harass or demean her. It isn’t until later in the text, when Xiomara discovers the power of language through writing and poetry, that she learns that her voice is, in fact, more powerful than her fists, particularly in building relationships with those who are important to her.

“I look at her scarred knuckles. I know exactly how she was taught faith.” (Part I)

—Xiomara

Analysis: When Xiomara says she doesn’t want to attend confirmation and asks Mami about the possibility of not going, Mami says she will send her to the Dominican Republic, where she was confirmed. Xiomara looks at her mother’s hands, which are scarred on the knuckles, and understands how her mother became so pious—she was forced to be through violence. Mami’s hands, hard and calloused from both work and violence, are symbols of her struggles in life. She wears them as somewhat of a badge of honor, proud that she sacrifices in the name of God.

This is one of the few times in the novel when Xiomara views Mami sympathetically instead of as a threat. Even so, the fact that Mami would allow Xiomara to be abused in the same way to increase her faith shows that Mami is continuing the succession of cruelty in the name of religion. This is a symbol of the way Mami treats Xiomara throughout her life—with threats, intimidation, and control.

“Sometimes it seems like writing is the only way I keep from hurting.” (Part I)

—Xiomara

Analysis: Xiomara explains that Twin gave her a notebook for their 12th birthday. She describes how putting her thoughts into poems helps her figure out the world. Throughout the novel, Xiomara laments that she feels like no one listens to her, that her thoughts aren’t important—that she isn’t even expected to have thoughts of her own but instead to follow her family’s rules and religious teachings. Twin’s gift makes her feel, for the first time, like her own ideas matter. She describes writing as a balm to help her heal her hurting heart. It’s the only place she can be her authentic self, writing questions she has about Mami and Papi, religion, sexuality, and other thoughts about life.

As Xiomara moves from only expressing her thoughts in private writing to sharing some of these ideas first with Aman, then the world, through spoken poetry, she begins to learn that her words can do more than temporarily ease the pain she feels. They can connect her to others and help them better understand her. Xiomara’s words can even help create a community where she truly belongs and where her voice and talents are valued.

“He gave Eve curiosity but didn’t expect her to use it?” (Part II)

—Xiomara

Analysis: Xiomara has many questions about her faith, and she voices these thoughts in confirmation class with Father Sean. Apples often appear in The Poet X, usually in relationship with questions Xiomara has about faith. Here, referring to the biblical Book of Genesis, she asks Father Sean why God gave Eve the gift of curiosity and then punished her when she succumbed to temptation. Her question runs deeper than just this one story, though. Eve symbolizes the expectations that Xiomara feels the Catholic Church imposes on women. Eve is seen as a temptress who caused Adam’s fall; Xiomara is being taught that just by existing in her body, she is tempting boys and thereby sinning.

This is also the first time Xiomara expresses total doubt in the religion of her mother. She asks after the question about Eve whether the Bible is a metaphor that perhaps didn’t really happen. Eventually, poetry—which Xiomara finds much more relatable than confirmation classes—will give her a way to see religion through a critical lens rather than simply rejecting it totally. As Xiomara grows and learns, she discovers that her questions aren’t necessarily sinful but a way of connecting her faith to the world around her.

“I think about the things we could be if we were never told our bodies were not built for them.” (Part II)

—Xiomara

Analysis: Xiomara has been told all of her life that her body is an issue—she is too big, too curvy, too tall. She now largely believes this about herself. Mami once thought of her as a miracle but began to see her as “too much” when she grew breasts. Mami became extra hard on her at that point, accusing her of being too sexual when she was still just a girl. Here, however, Xiomara is speaking of Aman. When they go ice skating, Xiomara is impressed with Aman’s skating ability. Aman explains that he taught himself since his father wouldn’t allow him to take lessons.

Aman’s father used his power to tell Aman what he couldn’t do or be, just as Xiomara’s family and church have told her all the things she couldn’t and shouldn’t be. Being constantly shamed for her figure hasn’t allowed Xiomara to develop into her authentic self; instead, it has caused her to try to make herself small and avoid being seen or heard. Aman is the first person who truly listens to her words, encouraging her to read him her poetry and supporting Xiomara’s self-exploration as a confident woman and poet.

“Because no one will ever take care of me but me.” (Part II)

—Xiomara

Analysis: The day after Mami sees Xiomara kissing Aman in public and punishes her by making her kneel on rice, Xiomara is assaulted and harassed by a group of boys in the hallway near her locker. She locks eyes with Aman and feels relief that he will protect her because she’s told him how much this kind of behavior bothers her. However, Aman freezes and does nothing, infuriating Xiomara, who must then confront the boy who groped her. She believes that she is the only person she can count on—no one will ever defend her, even those who understand how it makes her feel.

At this moment, Xiomara feels that Aman is just like Twin, unable to physically intimidate those who do the same to Xiomara. This only reinforces her previous understanding that she is the only person who will take care of her, and she breaks it off with Aman. Later, Xiomara will realize that Aman has given her the gift of self-expression. While he is unlikely to fight for her physically, he has given her the strength to see her own self-worth as more than her physical features and to use her words to express herself.

“I’m only sorry . . . that I had to hide it at all.” (Part III)

—Xiomara

Analysis: After Xiomara is caught kissing Aman in public, Mami forces her to attend confession with Father Sean as part of her punishment. Father Sean asks her to meet him in the rectory and has a conversation with her instead of hearing her confession. When asked whether she’s repentant, she says she’s sorry she was caught and sorry she even had to hide it. Xiomara is actually saying that she is sorry her religion holds her to such rigid standards. She’s sorry that her mother tries to control her and forces her to be a meek and virginal “Proverbs woman” when Xiomara has all these emotions bubbling inside of her.

For the first time, Xiomara gives voice to her thoughts not just with a pen but to another person. Father Sean becomes somewhat of a confidant, and this relationship will build as he not only helps wrestle with her thoughts and questions but eventually serves as an intermediary to help repair Xiomara and Mami’s relationship.

“The way the words say what I mean . . . How they build community.” (Part III)

—Xiomara

Analysis: After Xiomara experiences poetry club and the open mic, she begins to understand that her words have power. She once felt this with Aman, but now she experiences feeling truly heard with others, not necessarily connected to the romantic connection she had with Aman. Ms. Galiano encourages her to compete in a poetry slam competition, and, rather than decline or shrink away, Xiomara realizes she’s ready to share her thoughts with the world.

Xiomara also recognizes that words have the power to “build community.” Through her poetry, she feels connected to other people, and she’s beginning to come into her own, able to bond with others in the spoken as well as the written word. Not only does she finally feel heard but she also realizes that by being a participant she can grant that same feeling to others. This section of the text emphasizes the theme of language as a vehicle for connecting with others.

“I hate her.” (Part III)

—Xiomara

Analysis: The day after Mami burns Xiomara’s notebook, Xiomara returns to school in the same clothing as the day before. Ms. Galiano knows something is wrong; she pulls her into the hallway and says she called Xiomara’s home to check on her last night. Xiomara utters the entire story, describing it as a catharsis of all the words she’s “held tight.” She blurts that she hates her mother, words “I’ve never even known I’ve thought.”

At this moment, Ms. Galiano is everything Mami hasn’t been to Xiomara. She is a role model with whom Xiomara can relate, and she is the supportive adult Xiomara has longed for. Xiomara’s inability to stop her words shows the transition that she’s gone through—once unable to voice her thoughts at all, she now hears her feelings pour out all by themselves. While poetry has given her this ability, so too has a connection with people who truly and openly care about her.

“There is power in the word.” (Part III)

—Xiomara

Analysis: Xiomara performs in the New York Citywide Slam Competition in front of her family, her friends, Ms. Galiano, and even Father Sean. This moment is the culmination of all the pain and growth Xiomara experiences over the course of the novel. Her family has participated in counseling with Father Sean and has begun to open up emotionally, healing old wounds in the process. Xiomara speaks her poem from her heart with confidence. The power comes not just from the words themselves but from Xiomara’s feelings of being supported. Poetry helped her find her voice and build relationships with all the people who now stand with her. Acevedo develops the theme that the power of language has built bridges where there was previously no way to connect.