The book we have chose to read in our book club was The Borden Murders, by Sarah Miller. The book was based on a true story of the murder of the Borden family in Massachusetts during the 1800s. In the book, the main character — Lizzie Borden, daughter of the victims Andrew and Abby Borden(father and Step-mother) was accused of killing her father and step-mother. She had to wait in jail for 10 months and went for a two week trial. The book relates to real life issues we face now about how people choose to believe in what they want to believe, take example the officer in the book suspected that Lizzie was the murderer over some statistic evidence that was not solid evidence which ruined Lizzie’s life.

This found poem I madeis based on the beginning of the short story Button, Button. It tells a story about a couple receiving a package with a button inside. They were told that if they were to press the button, someone that they do not know would die and they would receive fifty thousand dollars. They have a choice to either press the button and receive fifty thousand dollars or throw the package away and pretend as if nothing had happened. 

This short story is about a package that was delivered to Mr. and Mrs. Lewis’ home. A man by the name of Mr. Stuart arrived shortly after the package was received. He explained that if they were to press the button inside the package, someone whom they did not know would die and they would receive fifty thousand dollars. Mr. Lewis thought that the whole incident was absurd and did not give it any further thought. Mrs. Lewis, however, thought that with the money they could go on a vacation. For days, the couple would argue over this. It was a simple decision. Press the button and see what happens or return it to Mr. Stuart. One day after her husband had left for work, Mrs. Lewis decided to push the button out of curiosity. A moment later, the phone rang. It was from the hospital. The caller on the line informed her that her husband had been killed, having been pushed from the train platform onto an incoming train. She was shocked and devastated. As she hung up the phone, she remembered the insurance policy Mr. Lewis had bought. It was for $25,000 with double indemnity – which translate into $50,000 – the exact amount Mr. Stuart had said they would receive. Mrs. Lewis was intrigued.  Mr. Stuart had told them that someone they did not know would die. But now it was her husband who had died. Does this mean that Mr. Stuart was not telling the truth or that she did not really know her husband? Did he have a secret identity that she was not aware of? 

The package was sealed with tape, Inside the carton A glass dome went into the kitchen make Arthur a small man. He smiled, it was offensive he frowned 

My found poem relates to the story’s conflict because it presented the little bits that led up to the conflict. The first sentence relates to the beginning of the story where it all starts from a weird package. But once you make it through the first sentence, what you see after might find no sense, “A glass dome went into the kitchen make Arthur a small man.” This sentence was developed on weird sense of humor, randomness and to reflect upon the story. When it wrote A glass dome went into the kitchen, what I meant is the conflict of the story, the button, as well as who caused the tragedy. Make Arthur a small man. These five words seem completely off topic of describing the conflict, however I wanted to raise awareness of what was in the story. They seem to show no respect to people who do not live in America quoted here in paragraph 100-104,  

“’If you don’t even know the person?’ Norma said.  Arthur looked astounded. ‘Are you saying what I think you are?’  

‘If it’s some old Chinese peasant ten thousand miles away? Some diseased native in the Congo?’ 

‘How about a baby boy in Pennsylvania?’ Arthur countered. ‘Some beautiful little girl on the next block?’” This discussion happened the same night when they received the package, it debated about how they didn’t know the person that would die. Mrs. Lewis said that what if it was just some random old peasant. Mr. Lewis did not say point out if an old Chinese peasant dying was alright but also did not agree with her, instead he said what if was a boy or girl living in the US. This discussion shows the inequality of people how an old peasants live is not as worthy as a child living in the US. As of that, make Arthur a small man describes the ritual in some part of Asia where people would cremate their loved ones once they pass away. It is mostly common to have their ashes kept in a cinerarium, which relates to how Arthur became a small man. This sentence uses small man to represent Asian culture. 

The conflict of this story is an internal conflict, it talks about whether Mrs. Lewis should or should not press the button.