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Sharon Kraus Facing It Poem Analysis

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Facing the Deeper Meaning

In an essay Poetry for Students, Sharon Kraus analyzes “Facing It”, a poem written by Yusef Komunyakaa. She covers the importance of minimalism, identity along with experience, irony, confusion, and ambiguity.

First, she speaks of how “simple” the “minimalist monument” truly is, yet it holds a deeper meaning. Kraus explains that on first glance, it seems that people, including the speaker, are only looking at the monument with its reflective surface and dark, simple design. However, upon delving more into the hidden meaning, representations, and thoughts you come to find out that the speaker is not peering solely at “actual people and things” in the reflection. While this monument is “unlike traditional” pieces, the monument posses a “message.” A message that you, the looker, the admirer, are “among the fallen,” and that not only are you scanning your gaze so carelessly across …show more content…
Komunyakaa ponders a couple of meanings for the events taking place around him whether it be voluntarily or involuntarily. For example, when he looks at the white veteran’s eyes, it isn’t fully clear on what exactly he is thinking. “Questions are raised” and they are not thoroughly answered, and it is left to both the speaker and the reader to determine what lies beneath. The speaker, however, reckons that the white veteran is “damaged” which leaves the room for empathy. He experienced Vietnam first hand, so he has an idea on how the man is feeling, but he isn’t certain.They “shared history.” Also, another example would be when the speaker “misperceives” the action of a woman “brushing a boy’s hair,” for her attempting to “erase names.” He took these actions as “a gesture of grieving.” This small action also, in a deeper sense, represents the future. This one boy represents “the next generation,” in which he will more than likely be “cared for rather than damaged”

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