American Cheese

Jim Daniels, in his poem “American Cheese,” gives off a child-like, reminiscing tone to his readers by appealing to the tastes and experiences of his childhood, and the child-hood many Americans have experienced. The reader right away acknowledges the speakers conflict with his adult life when he tells himself that the fancy cheeses are okay in lines four and five. When he speaks about his “Day-old Wonder Bread” and folded slice of American Cheese, the reader can easily relate to their small, yet pleasant memories of their life at home. The speaker explains that his mom does not even remember him being a “cheese eater, plain like that,” because even though it was not a big deal, the small things are a big deal to the reader when it comes to remembering his simple life before he was an adult. By these small details of the speaker’s childhood, the reader walks away with memories of their childhood, reminiscing on their simple lives growing up as well.