Facing it poem analysis. Analysis Of Poem ' Facing It By Yusef Komunyakaa 2022-10-04

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"Facing It" is a powerful poem written by Yusef Komunyakaa, a Vietnam War veteran and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet. The poem describes the speaker's experience of visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., and the emotions that it evokes in him.

The poem begins with the speaker standing in front of the memorial, which is described as a "black mirror" that reflects the images of the people standing in front of it. The speaker describes how he feels as he looks at the names of the soldiers who died in the war, and how their names seem to "jump out" at him. He feels a sense of guilt and responsibility for the deaths of these soldiers, as if he could have done something to prevent them.

The speaker also describes how he sees the faces of the soldiers in the reflections of the memorial, and how they seem to be looking back at him with a sense of accusation. He feels overwhelmed by the weight of the war and the sacrifices that were made, and he is overcome with emotion.

The speaker then reflects on his own experiences in the war, and how he has struggled to come to terms with what happened. He admits that he has often tried to push these memories away, but that they always come back to haunt him. He feels a sense of shame and guilt for the things that he did in the war, and for the way that he has tried to move on with his life.

Despite all of these emotions, the speaker ultimately finds some sense of peace and acceptance in the memorial. He realizes that the soldiers who died in the war did so for a cause that they believed in, and that their sacrifices were not in vain. He feels a sense of gratitude and respect for them, and he is able to find some closure and healing as he stands in front of the memorial.

Overall, "Facing It" is a poignant and powerful poem that captures the emotional impact of the Vietnam War on those who served in it. It is a testament to the enduring power of memory and the enduring impact of war on those who experience it.

Poetry Analysis Facing childhealthpolicy.vumc.org

facing it poem analysis

War tears at an individual, whether you are a soldier fighting for your nation or daughter waiting for her father to return home unscathed. It is impossible to truly understand the emotional toll that something as devastating as a war can have on a person. There will be a time when they have to confront their past. This is shown through the meaning behind his writing, figurative language, and the structure of the poem. Especially, when these events are directly related to person, the memory reproduces every second of what happened. He is experiencing the simultaneous existence of peace and war and how it changes those who surround it. Weems is killed in what seems like a tragic accident.

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Facing It by Yusef Komunyakaa

facing it poem analysis

The poem is inspired from the experiences of the poet during the Vietnam War, where he worked as a correspondent and managing editor of a military newspaper. It commented on the lives of being a soldier returned from war. The use of imagery to suggest the tone evokes many different feelings from anticipation to fear. However, even though his death was tragic, it was not an accident. He looks deeper into the memorial and begins to analyze the reflections of others.

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Facing It “Facing It” Summary and Analysis

facing it poem analysis

The theme of this poem, through the speaker, gives us a peek into one of the most difficult phases a person can face in a lifetime. He feels in some ways as if his name should be alongside those he knew in Vietnam. Also, the Vietnam Memorial provides a place for individuals to feel close and reconnect with loved ones and friends. The author also uses stones as a symbol of strength and courage. A plane in the sky. A stone is a symbol of lack of feeling and lifelessness, which is a cold inanimate object.

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Facing It By Yusef Komunyakaa Analysis

facing it poem analysis

Then, he experiences nostalgia whilst reminiscing his past. The woman that he can see in the monument is walking away from it, and the names that were perching on her reflection remain, they are unable to reenter life. Furthermore, there is a duel between what could have been and what is. However, Kurt emphasizes on the need to confront misfortunes. No matter what war is transpiring, this same outcome is precise.

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Analysis Of Poem ' Facing It By Yusef Komunyakaa

facing it poem analysis

Many war veterans, of the Vietnam War, visit the wall in order to help reflect and heal from past traumatic images. We see a man struggling to keep his emotions in check as a flurry of emotions overwhelm him. One never comes to fully understand what his role was, but he came close to death at one point or another. In the second stanza Komunyakaa uses the image of "a bird of prey", thus pointing to the war, which had taken thousands of innocent lives. Many attempt to forget this critical situation and walk away from it, but at some point, it will come back and need to be confronted. In other words, the author no longer feels obligated to suppress his emotions. My clouded reflection eyes me like a bird of prey, the profile of night slanted against morning.

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Facing It Analysis

facing it poem analysis

The ever so controversial Vietnam Conflict, also known as the Vietnam War. During these moments, what the world needs the most is sincere compassion and care. It is in these lines that he reader finally comes to understand, if one did not have the knowledge previously, that the speaker is at a specific and well-known location. Weems, there is a tragic event. This three-way conflict is maintained throughout the poem. This poem was very well written, and I respect all that was said in the context of the poem.

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Analysis Of Facing It By Yusef Komunyakaa

facing it poem analysis

A plane in the sky. As evidenced by the poem, the stone is hard and cold without feeling. The contrast between stone and flesh is very distinctive. A plane in the sky. The Vietnam War was one of the longest wars in the history of the United States of America, in which around 10% of the total population had served. However, this is more than an expression of race. The speaker is transfixed by how, moment to moment, changes in light and shadow transform the reflections in the wall.

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An Analysis Of Facing It By Yusef Kounyakaa

facing it poem analysis

Facing It," by Yusef Komunyakaa talks about a war which most, if not all Americans are familiar with. Komunyakaa reveals to his readers that he has a personal history with the war, but even more so after finding a name on the wall, it suggests a more intimate, painful connection. The poem is full of imagery. The draft was initiated to help fill the shortages of Soldiers fighting in Vietnam; this brought a lot of dissatisfaction to the war and the quality of Soldiers that would be enlisted in the U. Although he gets back to present life, yet his mind is still stuck in the past. Yusef Komunyakaa was born in Louisiana, he served as a war correspondent and was the managing editor of the Southern Cross during the war, for which he received a bronze star.

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A Summary and Analysis of Yusef Komunyakaa's 'Facing It'

facing it poem analysis

My clouded reflection eyes me like a bird of prey, the slanted against morning. Yusef's poem, "Facing It" is an accurate reflection of what happens in the face of the world due to war and turmoil. He expresses his strong emotions towards the Vietnam War because he was a veteran. Komuyakaa stands at the memorial realizing that is more that it appears; it is not just cold stone, but something he identifies with on a more deep and profound level. Hereinafter he will be back to the image of the bird. It is apparent that the authors was a soldier who experienced some of the most gruesome images of World War I.


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