Alexander Kimel's I C A N. O. G. E T

Alexander Kimel’s poem “I C A N N O T F O R G E T” examines trauma, particularly trauma associated with, and experienced during, the Holocaust. Kimel’s use of repetition and diction highlight that without remembrance of the experienced trauma, history is bound to repeat itself. In Kimel’s poem, repetition reveals the effects of trauma and how it influences the survivors’ internal conflict. This is revealed through repetition. Kimel not only uses the repetition of the phrase “No, I don’t want to remember, but how can I forget?” (Kimel, lines 6, 12, and 18) to inform the reader of the horrors of the Holocaust, but also to warn the reader that by forgetting these traumatic events, history will inevitably repeat itself. Oftentimes, when one experiences significant trauma, there is a factor that

He repeats the phrase to convey the magnitude of the internal struggle to the reader and that it is a battle they must struggle to overcome. Additionally, through diction, it is shown that trauma takes time to understand and process. The use of diction emphasizes the importance of the Holocaust, and its effects, being remembered by all. “No, I don’t want to remember, but how can I forget?” (Kimel lines 6, 12 and 18), “No, I don’t want to remember but I cannot forget” (Kimel, line 24), and “No. I Have to Remember and Never Let You Forget” (Kimel, line 30). By changing the phrases slightly, Kimel shows the reader how survivors of traumatic events slowly understand the importance of remembering, and also highlights the progression of internal conflict from a place of fear, hurt and sorrow to a place of preservation, prevention and the safeguarding of others. Kimel is specific in his phrasing and repetition of the phrases to highlight how trauma is devastating and not easily forgotten by the