Analysis Of The Poem Steps By Naomi Shihab Nye

The poem “Steps” by Naomi Shihab Nye, is a piece about Arabic immigrants and the effect of their differing levels of assimilation. Nye describes how the immigrants absorb the new culture. In the New World, America, different people can adapt in a myriad of ways. According to the author, some non-natives may assimilate to the American culture more than others, but overall, if someone forgets their original culture and does not teach the next generations, the culture will die.

In the poem, the author states, “A man letters the sign for his grocery/in Arabic and English” (1-2) which means English is not the first language of the people, yet since it is the predominate language of America, the immigrants will assimilate to how the Americans

live. The quote also shows that the newcomers are located in America, but they are living in an area that is made up of people who speak Arabic. Another part of the poem that is important to the reader is the sisters. The first sister who is “dangling a book bag” (17), is embracing the American culture as much as she needs to, but not as much as the other sister who is more linked to her original heritage. The other sister, whose eyes are “pinned to the barrel/of pumpkin seeds” (18-19), is more acculturated with America, and the reader can tell because she is fixed on something North American that is new to her. Out of both the sisters that represent the adapting immigrants, “one of these children will tell a story” (14). This means that although they have moved to a new place, the children must remind the next generations of their original culture. If they do not do so, their culture will be forgotten, which directly connects to the theme. Lastly, the “purple fish sticks to the back of the throat” (25) represents the American culture sticking to the children because fish candies are an American treat.
“Steps” by Naomi Shihab Nye is a poem based on immigrants new to America and their assimilation. Nye depicts some of the ways immigrants acculturate and how some adapt more than others. The author also portrays the importance of remembering one’s original culture. Although Nye does not say whether someone should or should not stay true to their heritage, the poem does covey a strong theme. If someone chooses not to remember their original culture and pass it down to the next generations, the culture will be forgotten and fade away.