"American Cheese" by Jim Daniels

Jim Daniels uses a nostalgic tone in his poem "American Cheese," proving the importance of staying grounded and connected to one's past. He uses imagery of various cheeses and extended metaphor to bring this idea to life. Daniels begins that today, he eats "cheeses / my parents never heard of–gooey / pale cheeses speaking garbled tongues." He paints this picture of foreign cheese to show that later in life, he has great opportunity and ability. He has allowed himself to "[acquire] a taste" for nuance and originality, despite this being different than his past. Daniels pictures his past house to be "built like a square of sixty-four / American singles," each piece requiring "[digging nails] in to separate them." Although he appreciates his current life, he can never forget his roots, writing, "I crave–more than any home / cooking–those thin slices in the fridge." Daniels refuses to let the present and delicacies of his new lifestyle hinder him from remembering his past, as he uses metaphor and imagery to convey this important practice.