Hi, I am working on a project I chose for the poem "here" by Aracelis Girmay and I dont understand one line which is " I am so worried for Jacques Cousteau. I do not want him to get eaten." If someone can explain it to me, it would be great! Thanks.

I also tried searching who he was but I didnt understand how he fit to the poem.

Cousteau was a pop culture figure, sort of a "rock star", a deep sea explorer who swam with the sharks and other sea creatures in TV documentaries that were very popular. He was part of the everyday experiences that the poet brings up in her poem, not personal, but on TV. TV was as much a part of daily life then as Instagram or Spotify might be to you today. So, she worried that he might be eaten by those sharks he swam with on TV. It would be something to be sad about in the "here" of her life.

Thank you so much

You're welcome. Pop culture changes rapidly. What was popular in another decade can be totally unfamiliar and forgotten in a year or two, much less 20 or 30 years later. :)

Of course! I can help you understand the meaning behind that line.

In the poem "here" by Aracelis Girmay, the speaker mentions being worried about Jacques Cousteau and not wanting him to get eaten. To understand this line, it is helpful to have some context about Jacques Cousteau.

Jacques Cousteau was a famous French explorer and conservationist. He was best known for his work in marine exploration and his documentaries about the underwater world. He co-developed the Aqua-Lung, allowing people to breathe underwater using scuba equipment.

In the poem, the speaker's worry for Jacques Cousteau may represent a more general concern for the safety of those who explore and seek knowledge, especially in unfamiliar or dangerous situations. The reference to being eaten might be symbolic, suggesting danger or harm that could come to Cousteau in his adventurous work.

The line could also express the speaker's empathy and concern for all individuals who dedicate themselves to exploring the unknown, taking risks, and pushing boundaries. It acknowledges the potential dangers and uncertainties these individuals face in their pursuit of knowledge and understanding.