Olivia Uribe
Ms. Richardson
Speech – Period 5
19 December 2016
Thanks For Remembering Us
Suspicion, mistrust, and accusations were the first three words that came to mind when reading Dana Gioia’s “Thanks For Remembering Us”. This sarcastic poem brings darkness to an action that would otherwise be deemed as thoughtful and kind-hearted. The title of the poem is deceiving and taunting, the speaker’s fruitless relationship is heavily symbolized by the flowers, and the overall theme is “failing to let go of love”.
Dana Gioia was born on December 24, 1950 in Hawthorne, California. Although he is a poet he received an MBA (Masters in Business Administration) from Stanford University. In his late twenties he moved to New York and worked as a businessman. However, in 1992, after publishing his first poetry book, he decided to become a full-time writer. Throughout his writing career Gioia has made several accomplishments including: being the author of several poetry collections, writing an opera libretto, co-editing two anthologies and four of the nation’s best-selling college literature textbooks, co-founded two major literary conferences, served as chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, and was appointed poet laureate of California. Gioia now lives in Sonoma County, California, with his wife and two
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