Immigrants" by Pat Mora

There are three underlying themes in the poem by Pat Mora entitled "Immigrants." The poem's main purpose is to convey what immigrants experience as they attempt to settle down into their new lives in America. The first theme has to do with the process of assimilation that immigrants try to have their families undergo through here. The second theme has to do with immigrants attempting to retain parts of their old cultures in their new homes. Finally, the third theme has to do with the anxiety immigrants often feel over whether or not their children will be recognized as American citizens.

Mora's most dominant theme within the poem has to do with how immigrants attempt to openly assimilate their families, particularly their children, into American society. Many instances of assimilation are mentioned here, beginning with the figurative meaning behind wrapping babies in the American flag. In...
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