Gizelle Gajelonia's tactic of responding to some of the works of writers such as T.S. Elliot, Elizabeth Bishop, Wallace Stevens, etc.,  in her book of poems "Thirteen Ways of Looking at the Bus", is meant to display her high regard for such hugely influential poets. Gajelonia is sharing her admiration with the reader by allowing them to see the world in her perspective. In this book of poems, Gajelonia's muse is the bus system of Hawaii- with its variety of people, cultures and beliefs, it serves as a reminder to Gajelonia that there is always a vast array of perspectives present. Each author/writer/poet can only give their own. Her responses to the poems referenced in the book, is not only a tip of the hat to the respective writer but also a display of Native Hawaiian pride. One of the major themes of the book of poems is the merging of many different cultures in one place - the bus. Each poem has its own specific purpose on what message it is trying to convey to the reader and they all relate to the idea that the bus is the vehicle which makes it all possible. The bus is Hawaii - a melting pot of many different people - and it is important because of its introduction of these many different perspectives to a writer, while also conveying the importance of each individual perspective.