WALK TWO MOONS
by Sharon Creech
Summary
Thesis Sentence: Symbolism
Tulips
As the baby laid dead in Salamanca's mother's arms, Sal named her Tulip. "My father came home from the hospital briefly the next day. "We should name the baby anyway," he said. "Do you have any suggestions?"
The name came to me from the air. "Tulip," I said.
My father smiled. "Your mother will like that. We'll bury the baby in the little cemetery near the aspen grove- where the tulips come up every spring"(pg. 149). They decide to bury the baby there because Tulip will never be forgotten, and keeps coming back to their mind like the tulips in the spring.
Blackberries
"No," I said. I like blackberries very much. I just have some allergies, I think."
"To blackberries?" Mrs. Winterbottom said.
"No, not to blackberries." The truth is, I do not have allergies, but I could not admit that blackberries reminded me of my mother"(pgs. 21-22). Though she tries not to, blackberries remind Sal of her mother.
Remembering her childhood, Sal recalls the blackberry kiss. "She took several quick steps up to the trunk of the maple, threw her arms around it, and kissed that tree soundly.
Later that day, I examined this tree trunk. I tried to wrap my arms around it, but the trunk was much bigger than it had seemed from my window. I looked up at where her mouth must have touched the trunk. I probably imagined this, but I thought I could detect a small dark stain, as from a blackberry kiss"(pg. 122). Everytime Sal sees a tree, she kisses it. Mixed in with the diverse tastes of all the trees, she could always taste the small hint of blackberries, reminding her of the grace that was her mother.
Singing Trees
As Sal peers down at her mother's grave, she hears the tranquil melody of a birdsong. "In the midst of the morning with only the sound of a river gurgling by, I heard a bird. It was singing a birdsong, a true, sweet birdsong. I looked all around and then up into the willow that leaned toward the river. The birdsong came from the top of the willow and I did not want to look to closely, because I wanted it to be the tree that was singing.
I kissed the willow. "Happy Birthday," I said.
In the sheriff's car, I said, "She isn't actually gone at all. She's singing in the trees"(pg. 268). Sal's mother is a silver lining who will never die, her spirit walks and dances and sings along with the breeze.