Before getting to my mother's house, I would always think of her on the porch or even on the street, sweeping. She had a light way of sweeping, as if removing the dirt were not as important as moving the broom over the ground. Her way of sweeping was symbolic; so airy, so fragile, with a broom she tried to sweep away all the horrors, all the loneliness, all the misery that had accompanied her all her life.
Interpretation
This quote reflects on a mother's enduring spirit in the face of hardship, portraying her actions as a symbolic attempt to sweep away life's burdens.
Reinaldo Arenas captures the essence of maternal love and resilience through the simple act of sweeping. His mother’s approach—light and airy—symbolizes an effort to not only keep the physical environment clean but to also lift the emotional weight of her life’s struggles, highlighting the profound connection between labor and love.
In practice
In a speech about family values, one might use this quote to highlight the strength and sacrifice of mothers.
[My dad] didn't do much apart from the traditional winning of bread. He didn't take me to get my hair cut or my teeth cleaned; he didn't make the appointments. He didn't shop for my clothes. He didn't make my breakfast, lunch, or dinner. My mom did all of those things, and nobody ever told her when she did them that it made her a good mother.
My dad was an incredibly brave man, completely dedicated to his family, with a love for all. If I could be half the dad he was, to my children, then that will be an achievement in itself. He died 14 months exactly to the start of the 2012 Olympics. I hope he will be watching and waving his big union jack in London from somewhere else. I love you so much dad.
It's as if, in the mother's eyes, her smile, her stroking touch, the child first reads the message:'You are there!'
What motivates me more than money are God and my family.
In families like mine, there is no crime worse than telling the truth.
The fear of failure is so great, it is no wonder that the desire to do right by one's children has led to a whole library of books offering advice on how to raise them
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