When I observe Gram, I see how fragile the notion of tradition can be. If I take my eyes off the way she kneads her Easter bread, or if I fail to study the way she sews a seam in suede, or if I lose the mental image I have of her when she negotiates a better deal with a button salesman, somehow, the very essence of her will be lost. When she goes, the responsibility for carrying on will fall to me. My mother says I’m the keeper of the flame, because I work here, and because I choose to live here. A flame is a very fragile thing, too, and there are times when I wonder if I’m the on who can keep it going. Adriana Trigiani
About This Quote

These lines from the poem "My Mother's America" by Junot Díaz express the poet's feelings of responsibility for his mother's happiness. She is very isolated as she lives in a small Caribbean island and Junot is very close to her as he lives in the United States. Junot needs to be aware of how his actions can affect her and make sure that she is happy and pleased with life.

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