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Vietnam Memorial Komunyakaa Analysis

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The effects of war resonate throughout a nation numerous years after the guns go silent and the peace treaties have been signed. One only has to look at the service members of past conflicts to comprehend the effect war has on those involved and our society in general. Our nation honors the sacrifices of the fallen as well as the survivors of past conflicts through museums, monuments, and memorials. Given the origin of these commemorations, they can carry a far greater significant meaning than anyone could ever possibly understand. Through the use of imagery, Komunyakaa illustrates the notion that the Vietnam Memorial is a connection between the fallen and the living that are in its presence. Komunyakaa initiates the use of imagery in the first lines of the poem when the speaker describes his emotional assimilation into the memorial during a visit. He opens the poem by stating, “My black face …show more content…

Upon reflection of his own work, Komunyakaa, regarding the Vietnam Memorial, states that, “Whoever faces the granite becomes a part of it” as well as asserting that the granite walls “constantly incorporate[e] into its shape all the new reflections and shapes brought to it” (“Facing It”). Komunyakaa’s comments regarding the setting of the memorial are captivated in his use of imagery throughout the poem. For instance, he opens the poem with the lines, “My black face fades, / hiding inside the black granite” (lines 1-2) and later remarks that one becomes incorporated into the wall when facing the large pillars of granite. Komunyakaa uses imagery to captivate the thoughts and emotions from personal experiences while visiting the memorial that perpetuate the idea that the memorial connects the souls of both the dead and the

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"Facing It” by Yusef Komunyakaa contains a very reflective tone, lost in the memories the Vietnam Veterans Memorial contains. He compares his own experiences of survival to the perspective he carries as he stands before the wall. As Komunyakaa reads through the inscriptions on the stone, he “half-expect[s] to find [his] own letters like smoke” (6-7). This implies despite his survival, part of him is still living among the fallen soldiers, stuck in the war as if his survival is only physical. The Vietnam War was a great controversy among Americans, most trying to erase the battles they've witnessed in history.

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Many of his poems in this book are about his time serving in the Vietnam War “as an information specialist and later an editor for the military newspaper The Southern Cross” (Conley). However, many of these poems are not only about the Vietnam War but also about racial matters. One writer states that “at the beginning of his poetic career, Komunyakaa’s vision was rooted most often in his race…” (Mack). This shows that his race and roots were extremely important to him growing up and remained important when he began his writing career.

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1207 Words | 5 Pages

Yusef Komunyakaa in his poem, “Facing It.” , the topic of the Vietnam War and the memorial are used. In which, during the period when the memorial was released there was much controversy surrounding it because of how there were many differing point of views regarding the war and why it even started. Moreover, during that time period much of the homefront was very chaotic due to these different opinions, which led to political unrest and violence during that time. Therefore, especially when this poem was published in 1988, only about a decade after the war officially ended, where even the mere mention of this event could trigger memories of those who have served.

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Yusef Komunyakaa, the author of “Facing It,” is a Vietnam Veteran who appears to write as a means to express his grief, pain, and postwar experiences. Being a Veteran myself and having been to the Vietnam Memorial in Washington, D.C. several times, I empathize with Komunyakaa. The first thing I noticed upon walking down the path to the monument was how quiet and peaceful it was, yet the sorrow and pain was deeply rooted. I located the names of family, friends, and the MIA Marine’s name “CAPT RICHARD R. KANE” on my MIA/POW bracelet. This experience sent chills throughout my body and was emotionally overwhelming.

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323 Words | 2 Pages

In Yusef Komunyakaa’s poem “Facing It”, he uses a regretful tone to successfully express the speaker’s memories of the Vietnam War. The poem starts out with the speaker looking at the memorial “My black face fades, hiding inside the granite.” (1), which helps visualize for the audience that the speaker is African American. However, this line is meaningful because it shows how he saw all the casualties that came out of the war, on the memorial, and visualizes the speakers hatred for the war. Later it becomes more evident that he was part of the war and how this caused the speaker’s ambivalence to surviving.

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469 Words | 2 Pages

Yusef Komunyakaa’s poem and Stephen Crane's excerpt factor similar and different events throughout their stories. While Crane’s piece is written from one man’s point of view, Komunyakaa uses the collective voice of a group of soldiers. In Crane’s excerpt, it talks more about fighting, what’s happening and going on in the war. In the poem, it talks more about what the soldiers do to mask their feelings and their emotions to stay strong and not get distracted thinking of memories of family.

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Yousef Komunyakaa’s poem “Facing it” used descriptive imagery for the audience to see his struggle as a veteran back from the Vietnam War. The alliteration of the letter F and I were used throughout the poem to add a hushed and peaceful tone to the concept of war after the fact. “Late to church” was meant to represent an internal war about religion. Growing up with extremely religious parents, I always felt disconnected from them because I don't believe in God as much as they do.

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1015 Words | 5 Pages

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Two years ago, Arlington National Cemetery, one of the nation’s oldest cemeteries, celebrated its sesquicentennial anniversary of substantial historical and moral significance. Founded after the American Civil War, the cemetery has been home to many of our fallen heroes, particularly those who have died during conflicts with American involvement and people of considerable national significance, such as presidents. The cemetery is one of extensive size and holds many monuments to memorialize the fallen. Arlington National Cemetery, a symbol of American patriotism, is the location of final rest for those who died during or after their call to arms or have achieved great importance in our nation; the cemetery’s historical, moral, and national

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1074 Words | 5 Pages

The metaphor “…their light hearts turned to stone” highlights that the people of Vietnam were severely affected by the war. They used to be light hearted, relaxed and happy but this eventually changed as the war destroyed their family, lives and home. As a result, the importance of humanity during times of war is reaffirmed as it can be seen where innocent lives were destroyed due to political

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752 Words | 4 Pages

A smoothness of shine.” Towards the end of the poem, Rios explains how the wall is honored by all who stand before it, be child, teenager, or adult. By way of example, he states in line 30, “Little kids do not make the same noise/ Here, junior high school boys don’t run/ Or hold each other in headlocks” (Rios, Alberto 34). By use of similes and metaphors, as well as images, Alberto Rios creates a vivid picture of the wall in the reader’s mind and conveys that people of different ages, gender, and culture are united by the

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1000 Words | 4 Pages

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398 Words | 2 Pages

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