Black Silk by Tess Gallagher

The Poem “Black Silk” by Tess Gallagher is generally illustrating the memories of two characters of their loved one. The poem gives a few hints that the man may have died and the two characters is still suffering emotionally due to his permanent absence. The title of the poem is very important because it is symbolic and it represents the actual event in the poem which is death. Black is overall situated with the passing away of someone and silk being a rich fabric which may represent the importance and preciousness of the man to the two characters.

There are many key moments in the poem. The first would be when the woman finds that silk vest and then the reaction of both towards it. It states in the poem, “She called me//to look at it, unrolling it carefully//like something live//might fall out. Then we spread it//on the kitchen table and smoothed//the wrinkles down, making our hands//heavy until its shape against Formica//came back and the little tips.” This shows how dear this man was too them. It’s like they found a part of him and tries to preserve it; keep it from fading away. Another key moment is after the character tries on the vest he/she says, “I went into the bathroom to see//how I looked in the sheen and sadness.” The two words, “sheen and sadness” again highlights how valuable this man was in their lives. However in the poem that there’s always one individual who has to be strong for both; to provide comfort in their tragic situation hence the reason why the narrator says that it was time to go to the woman with another mind and he/she stood still, putting on a barrier to mask the emotions and be strong. Overall the themes acknowledged in this poem are death, sadness, loss and significance.

 

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.

Storm Ending by Jean Toomer

The poem, “Storm Ending” by Jean Toomer is based on the culmination of a storm as the title states. He provides a vivid description of this surreal experience that both excites and interests the reader. He expertly compares and describes the storm as a flower throughout the poem which greatly contrasts the idea of how many view a storm or it's aftermath. He expresses the formation of thunder as a gorgeous blossom. These words are normally words used to describe the  perfection of  flowers. It can be argued that his choice of words to describe his view, is a bit Ironic. One can speculate that he is referring to clouds when he says “full-lipped flowers, bitten by the sun.” This can mean that the sun and the clouds are just appearing after the storm has ended and the sun is  shining through the clouds. His description helps the reader to clearly imagine the scenery. Toomer sees the beauty in what individual would refer to as terrifying. He first describes the rain as , “Bleeding rain” which  immediately conjures up a negative image of death and destruction but then immediately after he compares the rain to “golden honey” which brings in view, Spring time when bees hum around flowers to find nectar to make honey.

The negative idea of a storm contradicts the positive description that Toomer gives. Yet there is great beauty and meaning to this poem. It may be his way of referring to life experiences that are sometimes disastrous yet at the end of it all creates or serves a beautiful purpose. It can mean that there is exquisiteness even in the things that seem terrible and frightening but one would only have to see and understand it, to know that it exists. This poem describes art in nature and how powerful it is.