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Father Sean
Ms. Galiano is a young English teacher at Xiomara’s school with a reputation for being strict and giving lots of homework. Though these things both turn out to be true, Ms. Galiano is nothing like what Xiomara expected—she’s a tiny Latina woman who wears bright clothes and her hair naturally curly. Ms. Galiano seems genuinely interested in her students and often leaves personal notes on Xiomara’s assignments. In them, she mostly encourages Xiomara to join the poetry club that she runs after school. Even though Xiomara refuses to join for months, Ms. Galiano is still able to make Xiomara feel seen and heard by introducing her to spoken word poetry and encouraging her to write. When Xiomara finally attends poetry club, Ms. Galiano shows herself to be calm and encouraging for everyone. Xiomara begins to see Ms. Galiano as a real person and not just a teacher when, after Xiomara leaves home after Mami burns her poetry notebook, she learns that Ms. Galiano was worried about her and called Mami and Papi to check in. Ms. Galiano is the first person to tell Xiomara that she doesn’t have to do things she doesn’t want to do, and that she can make things stop just by asking. She also encourages Xiomara to speak openly with Mami. Following this, Ms. Galiano helps Xiomara develop her poem for the citywide youth slam and doesn’t let Xiomara chicken out. In many ways, Ms. Galiano functions as a role model for Xiomara, who notes that she hadn’t before seen someone Spanish-speaking and female who loves books and poetry so much.
Ms. Galiano Quotes in The Poet X
The The Poet X quotes below are all either spoken by Ms. Galiano or refer to Ms. Galiano. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Part I
Quotes
And I get all this attention from guys
but it’s like a sancocho of emotions.
This stew of mixed-up ingredients:
partly flattered they think I’m attractive,
partly scared they’re only interested in my ass and boobs,
and a good measure of Mami-will-kill-me fear sprinkled on top.
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The poet talks about being black, about being a woman,
about how beauty standards make it seem she isn’t pretty.
I don’t breathe for the entire three minutes
while I watch her hands, and face,
feeling like she’s talking directly to me.
She’s saying the thoughts I didn’t know anyone else had.
We’re different, this poet and I. In looks, in body,
in background. But I don’t feel so different
when I listen to her. I feel heard.
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Part III
Quotes
I can’t remember
the last time people were silent
while I spoke, actually listening.
Not since Aman.
But it’s nice to know I don’t need him
in order to feel listened to.
My little words
feel important, for just a moment.
This is a feeling I could get addicted to.
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I actually raise my hand
in English class
and answer Ms. Galiano’s question.
Because at least here with her,
I know my words are okay.
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And I know that I’m ready to slam.
That my poetry has become something I’m proud of.
The way the words say what I mean,
how they twist and turn language,
how they connect with people.
How they build community.
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Explanation and Analysis:
She puts a soft hand on my arm
and I look into the face of a woman
not much older than me,
a woman with a Spanish last name,
who loves books and poetry,
who I notice for the first time is pretty,
who has a soft voice and called my house
because she was worried
and the words are out before I know it:
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And so, I love this quote because even though it’s not about poetry, it IS about poetry. It’s about any of the words that bring us together and how we can form a home in them.
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Get the entire The Poet X LitChart as a printable PDF.
Ms. Galiano Quotes in The Poet X
The The Poet X quotes below are all either spoken by Ms. Galiano or refer to Ms. Galiano. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Part I
Quotes
And I get all this attention from guys
but it’s like a sancocho of emotions.
This stew of mixed-up ingredients:
partly flattered they think I’m attractive,
partly scared they’re only interested in my ass and boobs,
and a good measure of Mami-will-kill-me fear sprinkled on top.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
The poet talks about being black, about being a woman,
about how beauty standards make it seem she isn’t pretty.
I don’t breathe for the entire three minutes
while I watch her hands, and face,
feeling like she’s talking directly to me.
She’s saying the thoughts I didn’t know anyone else had.
We’re different, this poet and I. In looks, in body,
in background. But I don’t feel so different
when I listen to her. I feel heard.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Part III
Quotes
I can’t remember
the last time people were silent
while I spoke, actually listening.
Not since Aman.
But it’s nice to know I don’t need him
in order to feel listened to.
My little words
feel important, for just a moment.
This is a feeling I could get addicted to.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
I actually raise my hand
in English class
and answer Ms. Galiano’s question.
Because at least here with her,
I know my words are okay.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
And I know that I’m ready to slam.
That my poetry has become something I’m proud of.
The way the words say what I mean,
how they twist and turn language,
how they connect with people.
How they build community.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
She puts a soft hand on my arm
and I look into the face of a woman
not much older than me,
a woman with a Spanish last name,
who loves books and poetry,
who I notice for the first time is pretty,
who has a soft voice and called my house
because she was worried
and the words are out before I know it:
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
And so, I love this quote because even though it’s not about poetry, it IS about poetry. It’s about any of the words that bring us together and how we can form a home in them.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
