I think that this poem's main idea could be interpreted as just a rider on the train in deep thought, the author describes the bridge that the train passes over, the stars and the scenery.
At second listen the audience could interpret the train ride as one's journey in life, and as this author is on the train he is "observing" all the "good" things along this journey. I feel like the train represents the object of him reaching his goals. And by him riding the train its the start of his journey. The stars and the water could remind him of the good things that he seen on the way. The bridges could be the struggle that he had to overcome. As he looks in the dirty mirror he gets a reality check as he looks at the pain in his eyes. "The dirty mirror gives me back my face."
When the author mentions "Do you need a better friend, yes myself" I think is not only a representation of narcissism but also represents trust issues, maybe the author trusts too easily so now he realizes that he needs better, more trustworthy friends i.e: himself. The local stops and the "Nemesis" could represent road blocks along the way and the author also uses the distinction between Brooklyn and Manhattan as well as the bridge in between them to signify thr beginning of his journey and the end.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Facing it by Yusef Kumyankaa
I thought this poem to be deep understanding of the human physique and how it plays into the male ego.
I think that this poem focused in on the main theme of regret and pride. I interpreted the poets use of the color black with night as the dark or as and death, in the poem he says “My black face fades, hiding inside the black granite…” to me this is a form of shame, I believe that the poet is referring to his own feelings of humility for either serving in the Vietnam War this also can be interpreted from “I said I wouldn’t, dammit: no tears. I’m stone. I’m flesh.” yet this line evokes another meaning I believe the author wants to forget about what happened; suppress it because he is “Stone” but he is also ”flesh” “My clouded reflection eyes” represent to me his comprised view/memory of the war. “Me like a bird of prey” represents his vulnerability, or expressing his emotions which in turn could also mean becoming “flesh” and death is the “profile of the night” which we see brings the conflict of good and evil into the poem with “slanted against morning” morning being the light at the end of the tunnel. All of these aspects to me can be interpreted as a battle between social acceptance which can be determined by the human physique and the male ego in the sense of it not being "Socially acceptable" for a man to cry because he is suppose to be a rock; "Stone".
I think that this poem focused in on the main theme of regret and pride. I interpreted the poets use of the color black with night as the dark or as and death, in the poem he says “My black face fades, hiding inside the black granite…” to me this is a form of shame, I believe that the poet is referring to his own feelings of humility for either serving in the Vietnam War this also can be interpreted from “I said I wouldn’t, dammit: no tears. I’m stone. I’m flesh.” yet this line evokes another meaning I believe the author wants to forget about what happened; suppress it because he is “Stone” but he is also ”flesh” “My clouded reflection eyes” represent to me his comprised view/memory of the war. “Me like a bird of prey” represents his vulnerability, or expressing his emotions which in turn could also mean becoming “flesh” and death is the “profile of the night” which we see brings the conflict of good and evil into the poem with “slanted against morning” morning being the light at the end of the tunnel. All of these aspects to me can be interpreted as a battle between social acceptance which can be determined by the human physique and the male ego in the sense of it not being "Socially acceptable" for a man to cry because he is suppose to be a rock; "Stone".
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