In the particular poems we got to read this week I felt that
the poems where very understandable and had a nice flow to them. I noticed that
it could be due to the use of breaks and short lines in the poems. Also the
words read almost like a novel with rhymes and emotions that can clearly
reflect the poet’s positionality and personal association to each of their
poems and their chosen characters.
The differences that I’ve noticed
are interesting due to the fact that these poems are each resting upon a type
of society interpretation of the person. Of the labeled person, of the lost
person, of a child who came of age after wartime who is reminiscing and so on...
Making each of these poets use words that reference a second person format,
describing the life of the “other” while either being the person in the poem or
creating of a piece of poetry that enables their own story to be told through
the main characters lens.
The voices of these poets are
themselves, stuck within a story of pain of perseverance and of resistance. In
the poem No Moon In L.A by Anthony A. Lee, his voice is clearly one of pain,
lost hope, and feelings of regret. His voice has catered to these specific
feelings throughout his words on each of his versus, each verse continuously
reflecting a state of agony and suffrage. In Lee’s last line he say’s “let him
save my soul,” he is no longer hoping to save his brother, but himself from the
pain of seeing someone he loves so deeply in pained and having not done enough.
In another very powerful poem
Lengua de Culebra by Anaid Carreno, she uses descriptive words/labels that are
meant to hurt and victimize marginalized populations, but her stance is clear
she is a survivor, her words, her voice are resisting that of the oppressor! Her
constant reflection of the serpent and the use of tongue as her weapon to
protest makes her stay committed to combating an-overspread oppression.
Daisy, I also felt that "Lengua de Culebra" served as an active resistance to oppression. I can see easily how that poem might be used in an educational or activist setting. I think the second person can be such a powerful tool to build empathy, as you noted here.
ReplyDeleteDaisy, I hadn't considered the weapon to protest against oppression angle. Now that you mentioned that I hear it in a different voice for advocacy, instead of just an expression of emotion.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed how the poets placed themselves into the poetry. It made the poems more real for me instead of it being more of an outside observation.
Hi Daisy,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your share! I thought it was very interesting you referred to these voices/poets as "stuck". I felt that way too, however, I also felt that their voice was vocalizing their route/journey to break free. I'm glad you pointed that out, because at the end of the day, a history or past faced cannot be forgotten and escaped per se, but overcome. Similarly, like Angela's blog, she mentioned the serpent's power, and I see it more poignantly now how as venomous as a serpent can seem, it is the power and strength that the poet uses to depict the voice.
Thanks!
Tien
Daisy,
ReplyDeleteSome of your comments are right on and i think you could go more deeply into how the poems you mention reflects "the poet's positionally..." Lee is well done, but i want to see more of your skills.
e