Symbols, Imagery, Wordplay
Form and Meter
Pull up a chair, Shmoopers. Take a load off. Let's have a chat—no big whoop. That's kind of what the free verse form says to you as a reader.Free verse is not about following any set pattern or s...
Speaker
If we had to describe our speaker in one word, it would be "descriptive." We've never set food in this Latin deli, but thanks to all the sights, sounds, and smells that the speaker includes, we fee...
Setting
Come on in, Shmoopers. Have a look around. What looks good today? When you read this poem, you're stepping into the setting in a very important way. You're entering the deli and learning about its...
Sound Check
Se hablan español, Shmoopers? Don't worry if you're shrugging your shoulders out there. You don't have to know Spanish to enjoy this poem. But you should be aware of the way Spanish contributes to...
What's Up With the Title?
Like any good grocery store, our title offers up a little bit of something for everyone. Let's start at the beginning, shall we? We shall. "The Latin Deli" announces the setting for the poem. We ha...
Calling Card
You can tell you're reading a Judith Ortiz Cofer poem because it sounds like you're suddenly in the middle of an intimate conversation. She's a big fan of using free verse to explore issues of memo...
Tough-o-Meter
You really don't need a Spanish-English dictionary to enjoy this conversational poem. All you need is an appetite—for cultural connectedness that is.
Trivia
Judith Ortiz Cofer knew first-hand what it was like to call more than one place "home." Her childhood was spent living both in Puerto Rico and New Jersey. (Source.) Make that Doctor Ortiz Cofer, if...
Steaminess Rating
Sure, we have a few lovers in this poem, but they're the "lost" kind. Sorry.
Allusions
San Juan, Puerto Rico (11)Havana, Cuba (14)