What happens when Collins’ “American Sonnet” (1989) is juxtaposed with Khalid’s hit song, “American Teen” (2018) and a passage from Adichie's Americanah? When themes find company they come to light. “We announce that we are having a wonderful time. We express / the wish that you were here / and hide the wish that we were where you are” (Collins) plays well with “while I’m high off my American Dream/ we don’t always say what we mean” (Khalid). A host of corollaries are possible these can be surfaced in the activity described below. Listen to Khalid's track as you consider.