"Our Missing Hearts"

The line “Our Missing Hearts” represents both the way in which language can fuel political resistance and the way in which language can transform or become distorted over time. Throughout the book, a variety of activists—many of whom remain anonymous to the reader—stage protests or create performance art featuring this line. In these works of protest, the “missing hearts” refers to the children who have been taken away from their families. However, when Margaret initially wrote the poem she never had such a meaning in mind, demonstrating how her poetry—and language more broadly—can take on a life of its own when interpreted by an audience.

Nature

Nature represents the antithesis of the dystopian society that is closely controlled by the government. When Bird and Sadie spend time in Domi’s cabin situated in the midst of nature, thy experience life...