World Literature

Little Feet
Your tiny feet so fragile, oh god how can no one notice you. Every stone, mire, and drops of snow hurt your feet. Everyone is blind to the effect you have on the things around you. though your feet bleed, that blood leaves pleasantness and happiness. You are brave, you are perfect little one. Young child you hold two tiny gems, how can people overlook you?
During Gabriela Mistral’s early life, she was never far from poverty. At the age of 15 she became a teacher’s aid to support her mother after her father’s departure. One can interpret this poem to meaning of the “feet” in this poem as the young children in impoverished chile. There is also the interpretation that in this format we can just think Mistral is talking about feet and how they are when they are cold and bleeding, “Little wounded feet.” It’s like taking one point and dismissing the rest, maybe the real meaning and sadness comes after this little stanza by simplifying and getting to the main point we lose so much. However I took this poem to mean that as an educator Mistral can be using feet to symbolize poverty within her country of Chile; As well well as the children who she believe have a chance to change their life no matter the tribulations going on in their lives. She sees the good in these kids and wants to show that no matter what people around you are saying and the things going on in your life you are perfection. Beyond all this ugliness in this world children are the future and the true beauty of this world. I interpreted this as possibly that she did not have a beautiful childhood and her life wasn’t always perfect with every “stone” and “snow” were the everyday trials and tribulation. Mistral states that feet as “jewels”, One can interpret this as it’s not just about the literal feet but one’s life. She could be trying to prove that they are just as important as other people in other countries. In this effort she is trying to show us that everyone in this world is overlooking Chile and it’s situation because it’s not worth its time. The blood could mean Chiles contributions to the world and how no one in this world acknowledges the possible beauty Chile and it’s people can contribute to society. One part that really stood out to me in which I found an intensity and beseechment in Mistrals words was when she screams “how can people pass and not see you!”. She is asking us to notice and acknowledge the troubles of the youth in her country, not just to notice it but do something about it.