The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros

Esperanza's lyrical chant: "Keep, keep, keep trees say when I sleep. They teach" is a kind of spiritual prayer that helps Esperanza remain strong despite the hardships and isolation she experiences. Ironically, the trees symbolize community and not individuality. "Their arms around each other" represents a community and their mutual growth symbolize that Esperanza will not grow by cutting her roots. They all depend on each other- which is their reason for being.