Reflections by Yusef Komunyakaa

The poem Reflections by Yusef Komunyakaa relates a tragic situation about a man committing suicide.  According to the poet, the witness is standing on the opposite bank of the river observing the individual with a rope hanging over his head.  It states in the poem, “You yell his direction, /the wind taking /your voice away.” This indicates that the witness tries to dissuade by shouting across the river but the man cannot hear the witness because his words are ineffective; carried away by the wind. Instead this man is making preparation to take his life. Even when the observer calls out the man's mother’s name, it says that he only glances up at the red sky. The red sky may signify death and trouble since those are two major themes explored in the poem.  The character glancing at the red sky may mean that he is expecting to go to a “better place” which may be heaven; a place away from all the cares and troubles of life. Something that has to be taken into consideration is that the witness is being greatly affected by what he is seeing. It says in the poem that he can almost touch what the man is thinking and can feel him growing inside him. It is like the witness is watching himself take his own life away; it is as if he is the one in the situation. At the end of the poem, Komunyakaa states: “straining to hoist himself, /climbing a ladder /of air, your feet /in his shoes.” This shows how strong the connection is between the two characters, however both strive to achieve a different purpose. While one is trying to prevent the other from taking his life, this individual is trying to put an end to it. This poem shows how much tragedy can impact those who experiences it.

This poem also explores race, life and sorrow. The poet implies that it was a black man about to commit suicide. Another strong point is the use of reflection and connection in the poem. For example at the beginning, it says, “In the day’s mirror” which maybe referring to the water of the river or sunlight in the poem.  There is a very strong, sensitive connection between both characters. A powerful message in this poem is that individuals suffer and feel the pain of others, although they’re not the ones fulfilling the action. A good example is when the poet says, “your feet in his shoes.” Obviously this shows that people’s actions have great impacts on those who knows and experiences it.  Every individual and maybe those of race in specific may understand to a great extent how their fellowman suffers and feels in life’s situation.