The Color of My Words

In this chapter, Ana Rosa shifts her focus to the importance of music in the Dominican Republic, where “music grows in our blood right from the cradle” (45). She describes merengue, salsa, and bachata as three key dances that everyone knows, especially her Papi, who is an excellent dancer.

Ana Rosa’s family hosts fiestas twice a month where people gather to eat and dance, yet Ana Rosa dislikes these events since they make her feel embarrassed about her own lack of dancing skills. Before the next fiesta, Papi tries to teach Ana Rosa how to dance. When their attempts in the yard seem to fail, Papi takes Ana Rosa to the beach, which Ana Rosa loves.

Once on the beach, Papi stands Ana Rosa close to the water’s edge and tells her to “listen to the sea” (57). As she begins hearing the music of the ocean, Ana Rosa and Papi begin to dance; she is finally able to feel the music. The magic of the moment makes Ana Rosa understand Papi in a new way: “Papi was everything [she] had always wanted him to be” (59).