The responses to the poem "The Truth Is" by Linda Hogan were quite varied. I believe this aspect of poetry to be the most interesting and challenging when dealing with analysis. The fact that two people can look at the identical line or stanza and interpret it completely different from each other. I really love that.

The particular theme that I feel was primarily discussed was the inner struggle within the dialogue that plagues the author despite her best intentions to live free from the struggle itself. This was discussed in depth by all with many references to "We want amnesty" (2,8). The need for amnesty was analyzed as being a cry for relief from the inner turmoil that she experiences. Someone also mentioned that these dreams of amnesty brought her life no true peace. The most abundantly talked about metaphor, which seemed to intrigue everyone, was the pockets. This was seen as reaching into Hogan’s individual cultures but getting nothing out of either one. The pockets, we believed, to represent her white and Native American cultural background and in addition, felt that neither one had fulfilled her need of riches or love. The tree in the poem was also a great object of class discussion. It was seen with grafted branches, which was how we felt the author might like to describe herself. Thus seeing the tree as if it were possible for one to bear one light and one dark fruit.

I heard, throughout the poem's entirety, Hogan’s cry for relief from the opposing cultures both pulling her to make a choice, a relief that will never be granted. A few members of the class had some rather intriguing remarks to make:

Kim: white hand/dominant-as in representing the dominant culture

Sylvia: double meaning of white meaning "right"

Sonya: if you do not know who you are, you cannot know another; being "taped together", patched and not whole

Phyllis: Image of the tree-says the author felt barren, unable to produce