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  • Essay / Poem Facing It by Yusef Komunyakaa - 872

    Many authors write poems based on experience. During a major event, like war, authors have feelings they want to express. African American authors were not able to express themselves during slavery and war. That would have been a dangerous thing to do. Therefore, they used music, writings, writing poems and stories was the best way to describe their situation. In Yusef Komunyakaa's poem "Facing It", he talks about his experience during the Vietnam War. Komunyakaa was in Louisiana during the Civil War. During the Vietnam War, he joined the army as a correspondent (Poets). He later began writing newspapers for the army called The Southern Cross. The poem begins with the reflection of Komunyakaa's face fading as he gazes at the stone. These lines say: “My black face fades, / hides me in black granite” (1-2). Black granite does not show its complexion. He emphasizes his ethnicity when he uses the word "black" twice. Additionally, Komunyakaa recognized himself as African American and created a connection between himself and the memorial. Here I think he realized he should be on the memorial. He remembers an incident during the Vietnam War that should have cost him his life. His discolored face makes me assume he realizes there were no distinct races in this war. They were all Americans. In the next line, Komunyakaa cannot control her emotions. He dismisses his emotions when he says, "I said I wouldn't do it, / damn it: no tears" (3-4). When Komunyakaa looks at the wall, her past emotions come back to her. As he struggles with emotions, his perception of himself and his surroundings changes. At first his face was distant, but it appeared as he discussed the memorial and its meaning. He could now describe the middle of a paper...the breath of the other” (27-31). These lines indicate that the soldiers are divided between blacks and whites. They are all fighting for the same cause but are separated by race. Plus, they all seek attention from the same women. Women connect races and men ignore it. It is important to examine their poems to know what they experienced. This helps others because they may have experienced the same situation. Maybe they wanted to talk too. Works Cited Komunyakaa, Yusef. “Face this.” Neon Vernacular. Hannover, NH: Wesleyan UP, 1993: 159.Print.Komunyakaa, Yusef. “Tu Do Street.” Neon Vernacular. Hanover, NH: Wesleyan UP, 1993: 147. Print. Morledge, William. "NOON TIME – Eyes of Bangkok". Bangkokeyes.com. N.p., 2014. Web. April 26, 2014. “Yusef Komunyakaa.” Poets.org. Academy of American Poets, nd Web. April 20. 2014.