Komunyakaa is another contemporary poet. He, too, fits into other "categories" of poets. Where does he fall and why?
DO NOW: Please click on Comments and give your ideas about this poem.
Partying Towards Perfection
9 years ago
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
Yusef Komunyakaa: More Than Simply Fun To Say
Komunyakaa is another contemporary poet. He, too, fits into other "categories" of poets. Where does he fall and why?
DO NOW: Please click on Comments and give your ideas about this poem.
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It made a difference having the writer read his own poem. You can feel how Komunyakaa identifies with
ReplyDeletethis poem. You can feel how he experienced what he wrote about. The last line about the woman brushing off the stone when she was actually brushing the hair of the son that had passed was so touching and sad.
Marie Arias
Although Komunyakaa is considered a contemporary poet, I think he could also fit into the group of the Beat Generation. I found him to be comparable to Allen Ginsberg. Their writing sounded similar to me. I think this is because he uses a similar style. I was able to relate it to Ginsberg’s America even though Ginsberg doesn’t break up his sentences as much as Komunyakka, he still uses sentences. Also, they both use their own experiences.
ReplyDeleteAdam S.
Hearing the poet himself recite his work helps bring your thoughts on his work together. I would fit him into the category of the confessional poet. His poem is very personal and you can feel what he experienced. I do wish that he would of slowed the tempo. Overall Yusef is a great poet and I enjoyed his work.
ReplyDeleteClaudy N.
Komunyakaa embodies everything that minorities faced in the time of war and racism. There were racial issues during the time of the Vietnam War. This poem was sad. To hear Komunyakaa speak was heartbreaking and eye-opening at the same time. The issues that minorities faced in this time was only understood if you were in their shoes. A beautifully executed message about race and political struggle was obvious in Komunyakaa’s poem. Being a post 9-11 Veteran gives me the privilege to say that I can sympathize with Komunyakaa and all he wanted to express to the world. “My black dace fades” (1) is heartbreaking with the one line that introduces you to the poem. It gives the feeling that no one cares after all he has done because he is black. A Vietnam Soldier that has passed and is looking for recognition on the wall of fallen soldiers, this could be the message. “A white vet’s image floats” (25) Here the speaker is comparing the spirit of the white soldier and his of that to a stone. A stone falls and sinks, it does not float. A sad depiction of what our world was, is, and will become. When you are at war, everyone is like your brother/sister. You become family and create bonds that cannot be broken. Would Komunyakaa have felt differently if he was at war in the present time rather than in Nam when racism was so damaging.
ReplyDeleteAnthony S.
Komunyakaa, Yusef. " Facing It" . Contemporary American Poetry. Eds.R.S. Gwynn and April Lindner. NY: Penguin. 2005. 341-2. Print
DeleteAnthony S.
If I close my eyes and listen to "Facing It", Komunyakaa could certainly fit into the beat poetry genre. Set to a certain type of music, maybe jazz, it would work beautifully. His poetry is also confessional, because he is telling a story about his own experiences.
ReplyDeleteKarin S.
Komunyakaa's "Forget It" shares some ground of confessional poetry; the speaker uses imagery to provide metaphorical his battle even after the war. Throughout the poem, I felt the speaker is desperate to run from the memories of the past but he struggles and tries to find his name among the list of the those that perish.
ReplyDeleteForgot my name yet again.
ReplyDeleteRohit P