Author: Anthony Rosario

Where I’m From

Anthony Rosario

I am from boots ,

from TV and Nintendo .

I am from the clutter 

I am from the willow tree,

the grass

I am from church 

and loving,

from Jenyons

and Leo and Jeremy.

I am from the forgetful

and nosy.

From Honesty is the best policy 

and you’re talented.

I am from rosary with no meaning.

from telling everyone you’re Christian so that you don’t make mom look bad.

I’m from New York City ,

Tres Golpes y Chimi.

From the child placed on burning newspaper,

From learning your lesson for running away from home,

and the one who never came back because he was busy playing with dad’s locker. No one is supposed to go in there.

I am from St Nicholas in that dingy old apartment, right in the living room/kitchen/dining room. The antiques have are covered in dust, the mess is unbearable.

Alternate Ending

Anthony Rosario

“But above all,” she wrote, “night and day, I thank the good God for having so arranged our lives that our dear Armand will never know that his mother, who adores him, belongs to the race that is cursed with the brand of slavery.” Armand’s hands shake violently as he crumples the letter and slams his fist on to the cabinet. Sweating and pale Armand walks toward the fire while bumping into the workers adding to the fire. His eyes were lifeless as he steps closer and closer to the fire the embers almost singeing the hair on his eye brows. He reaches his hand out and tosses the letter in letting the fire burn his finger. The workers continue on…

Armand showed that he would shun his wife and kids over this, I decided to make Armand even more selfish where in this tragedy he sees opportunity to keep his pride and social standing since the problem dealt with itself and the evidence is in the pyre. Good luck to him if he tries to have kids again.

Chopin Street Cred

Anthony Rosario


Being upset at Kate Chopin being a white woman writing about racism is understandable, I think there’s a place for all perspectives in literature. This isn’t like an influencer post on Instagram. Even if the race of the writer has nothing to do with the topic I think it’s okay for them to write about it as long as you check their background and decide whether you like what you’re reading or not. I think because of her family history and marital status it makes her perspective and interesting one.

Feminism and Ichiyo

Anthony Rosario

Higuchi Ichiyo’s writing depicts woman seemingly accurate to her time period, women the time were seen as nothing but objects and caretakers. Women were there to support the man as he is the head of the household Higuchi Ichiyo shined a light on the reality on how women were treated and out of necessity choose to stay with their husbands no matter how bad the environment is. In ” The Thirteenth Night” Oseki is seen as a doting housewife who is supported by her husband but she is verbally abused constantly. She is ready to leave him but after one talk with her father she was convinced to stay with her husband for her kid and her family who were benefiting from Oseki’s marriage to Isamu. Even after she saw a glimmer of hope when meeting someone from her past Roku who she desired to run away with but resisted for the sake of her duties as a wife, mother and daughter.

Marxism Blues

Anthony Rosario

In “The Thirteenth Night” Isamu (the husband of Oseki) is of a higher economical class than Roku which is what led to her being pressured to marrying Isamu. After meeting Roku she reminisces of their past relationship and thinks of a different life she could of had if she had married Roku instead while he tells her about all the trials he’s been going through since they last saw each other. In the lens of Marxist theory it could be said that the story shows how Oseki and Roku while being in different economic classes they are going through the same problems and struggles despite the class difference.

Unfair Gov’t

Anthony Rosario

In “The Trial of Thomas Builds-the-Fire” and “This is What it Means …” the examples of government portrayed are unjust and oppressive. They take advantage of Thomas’ need to tell stories against him and get him to indict himself in the trial. Constantly leading him on to continue telling tales. “Mr. Builds-the-Fire, you do admit, willingly, that you murdered two soldiers in cold blood and with premeditation?” said the cross examiner, and that was enough to get him to admit to a crime he did not commit which shows just how oppressive the government toward anything they don’t like. They didn’t need any evidence to put Thomas behind bars, just the words of a storyteller.

Bambara Censorship

Anthony Rosario

While I don’t have children of my own I see more harm than good when it comes to being always honest with kids. False promises is where I draw the line though. I can see why parents don’t talk about problems in their marriage with their kids, or tell them “grandma is just a little under the weather.” I think it’s okay to protect a child’s innocence as they grow up. There may be smarter and more mature children out there who are ready to hear about the harsh realities and that’s when you sit them down and have a discussion. There definitely should be a talk on lying as well and hope that your child does not use it for evil.