My Father's Love Letters By Yusef Komunyaaka

The poem “My Father’s Love Letters” by Yusef Komunyaaka paints a complex picture of a dysfunctional family. Komunyaaka uses first person when he was writing about his parents. Most of the information about the three characters and the dynamics between them is implied rather than given. Yet, through a clever use of simple language and vivid imagery throughout the poem, Komunyakaa is able to create meaningful and multi-faceted impressions of the characters and their relationships with each other. The poem also offers subtle hints to an curious audience about the wider context that may have affected the family. In his poem, Komunyaaka paints a vivid picture of a father and his child’s relationship after their wife/mother has left them both. Through

The romantic song, “Polka Dots & Moonbeams never made the swelling go down,” sung by Frank Sinatra reveals the dysfunctional relationship between his parents. Despite the abuse and separation, the poem discreetly suggests that the parents also shared happier memories in the past that the mother associates with this romantic jazz tune that was popluer in the 1940s and 50s. It shows how the father abused the mother time and time again. However, no matter how good their relationship was when they got back together to reunite, it was only temporary, like a song, because the damage was done and the beating continued. While the son disapproves the father’s abuse, he also admires his trades skills, “he’d look at blueprints/ & say how many bricks/ Formed each wall” in lines 30-32. It seems like he also almost pities the man. The boy appreciates the effort it takes his father to come up with the words, “eyes closed & fists balled” in line 35 and feels that the actions almost redeem him. The son’s compassionate description subtly pushes the audience to question why his father is violent. Komunyakka uses allusions to help us understand the past the parents had. It showed us how it was once a loving relationship gone