By: Julieta Delgadillo

Inspiration for the ProjectTender buttons was the

most difficult poetry I have ever attempted to analyze. Within, that frustration I came up with some tactics in order to help facilitate the process. I found myself researching through her biography’s, readings, picture’s, and basically any information I could find based on her life. My tender buttons book is filled with underlined words, marks, and conclusions I made in order to make more sense out of her work.

The Rules1. Read the Poem out loud. Disclose the

identity of the poet. Or any information about the poem

2. Give each person a physical copy of the poem and a writing utensil. Give them as much time needed to mark or write opinions about the poem.

3. Reveal the poet and tell them about the poem.

Jay CesarAge: 23Occupation: College student (Nursing), aspiring actor and modelMet: I’ve known Jay since Jr. high, We’ve been close friends for 3 yrs.

Jay’s Response1. A sense of mystery and ambiguity, darkness. Killing something. It has to do with someone in love with someone or yearning somebody. See an old house (Victorian style) big windows/ big drapes. Late fall, early winter.

Jay’s Response to Question 2

Ricardo GarciaAge:28Occupation: BankerMet: Through my mom (4 yrs ago) , close friends for 3 yrs.

Rick’s Response1. I think its about a student that has a crush

on the person sitting behind them or at church. It makes you yearn for more. It’s a happy poem to care for someone, having that is awesome. Generalization about high school. Green eyes?

Rick’s Response to Question 2

Julianna BarbaAge: 24Occupation: UCSB studentMet: English class, known her for 6months

Julie’s Response to Question 21. Sadness, it’s about a girl poet, not about a

males perspective, anticipation and anxiety. Dark chair weather's death, portrays death of the soul, sounds depressed, battling indecision of life.

Julie’s Response to Question 2

ConclusionUltimately, I realize that maybe to have a

better understanding of Stein’s work I may have had to live in the same city, be a close friend, or lived in that particular year she wrote the book. We may analyze a poem as much as we want, but would our analysis come as close as the people around Stein? Could we truly gasped the understanding she intended to demonstrate to the reader? Or is her intention to make the reader wonder or to explore beyond the poetic boundaries?