I enjoyed many of Alvarez’s works, but one that stood out to me was “Ironing their clothes”. This was my favorite poem by Julia because she brings life to the clothing of her family as well as to the daily task itself. For example, she describes the worn garments of her father to be a representation of the man himself. Worn and old from the work he has done, his clothes adopt the same characteristics. Since Alvarez has defined her family through their clothing, the act of washing and ironing their clothing is really a representation of cleaning and straightening out the family members themselves. In the poem her mother is busy and hardworking and although there is not a lot of down time Julia enjoys spending time with her mother, even if that time is while they are working. To me this poem is about an immigrant family who must work hard to survive. It showcases love, and family, and that families must work together to stay together. I thought Alvarez wrote this poem beautifully and it was my favorite because of the meaning and overall theme of the poem.

Click here to read "Ironing Their Clothes" by Julia Alvarez