This piece is a sad piece but it helps the listener to learn a lot about immigration. It makes me realize even more how fortunate americans are to be living here, especially if you were born here. Maria is an illegal immigrant who has risked her life and gone through so much just to live in the United States. She began doing hard labor when she was four and had to live in tough conditions. The music in this piece is really important because it gives you a feel of Maria's culture in some wierd way. However this piece was a bit depressing and I would have liked to hear a more balanced point of view, like more of the positive things that happened when she came to the US. But I like the point she brought up when she said people dont ever ask WHY immigrants came over here, or what their stories are in terms of how they got here. It'd be interesting to hear more from another American student's point of view as an improvement to the piece. I like how at the end the author gave her own opinion about immigrants and the whole racist conflict going on. I just wish this poem could be a little less sorrowful and at least give the listener a sense of hope in the ending or a proposed solution would be nice.~Sasha*