We find out in the poem's second line that speaker is remembering a walk he took with a girl when he was twelve. "Oranges" captures the feeling of no longer being a little kid and yet being nowhere near adulthood. You remember the feeling, right? We (unfortunately) do—awkward times. "Oranges" is the original ode to tween-dom, written way before anyone had ever uttered the word "tween."
Questions About Coming of Age
- What aspects of the poem feel rooted in the world of adulthood and what aspects seem closer to the realm of childhood? Why?
- Does the poem's innocence make it seem childish or, because it is the recollection of a grown man, does the innocence simply feel nostalgic? Why do you think so?
- If you could go back and give your 12 year-old-self some dating advice, what would it be? Do you think the kid in "Oranges" made the right moves? Why or why not?
Chew on This
Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.
Nice try, but because "Oranges" gives us an adult's perspective on first love and coming of age, it is an inaccurate portrayal.
By blending elements from the adult world (feelings of romantic love) with elements of childhood (going on a date to the candy aisle), Soto captures the sense of being caught between the two worlds. That, folks, is coming of age.