We+Are+More

=**We Are More** = ===Describe what the poem means to you. Discuss the use of metaphor to create analogies in the mind of the listener. How does the impact of this poem change when you hear it as apposed to reading it? Use specific examples from the text. ===

This poem means alot to me. It means alot because the poem itself made me proud to be a Canadian. In the beginning he just simply talks about the stereotypes of a typical and average Canadian, but as the poem progresses it changes to say that we are more then our stereotypes, and he tells the world what a true Canadian is like. However I don't think that the stereotypes are all false. We are kind and we do say thank you and you're welcome "but we are more than genteel or civilized". I also loves his metaphors because they are powerful and they portray a great image. "So don't let your luggage define your travels", it means don't let the stereotypes and your past define who you are. "We are young, we are cultures strung together then woven into a tapestry" you are all different and unique but we are all striving towards the same goal. "We are the brightness of Chinatown and the laughter of Little Italy". It means we are a mulit cultural country who accepts everyone for who they and that we are all working in a different but important fashion to make our country glorious as it is. He states that "We dream so big that there are those who would call our ambition an industry". This means our hopes, our dreams are just as big as everyone elses maybe even bigger and that everything we do and will do is expectional, above and beyond everyone elses. When you hear the poem as opposed to reading it the impact changes a great deal. It changes because when you read it alone you just skim over the words, get the basic meaning and understand the literal meaning but when you hear Shane Koyczan the mood, atmosphere and the intensity all change. He pauses for effect, speaks with enthusiasm and changes the tone of his voice. Hearing that, the poem seems alot more thoughtful, powerful and you seem more connected to it. 6/6