Incident by Amiri Baraka

The imagery here is interesting. Beginning the poem with imagery using many verbs and non-noun words such as back, shot (twice, emphasizing "He came back"; as if to say the killer returning to shoot was like twice intentional), fell, stumbling, down, shot (again), dying, dead. Perhaps the lack of nouns and metaphor project a more literal feeling.

Only in the second paragraph do we get introduced to the nouns: speeding bullet, tearing his face, "blood sprayed fine over the killer and the grey light". Now we have the characters missing in the first stanza, and "the grey light"; perhaps even a pseudo-metaphor. As seen in the third stanza, the light is only a metaphor, the darkness both literal and metaphorical, as is the tumbling.

The journey from literal to abstract is gradual: the first metaphor of light so commonly (over)used and familiar, it can almost "feel" real to the reader. This sets up the metaphor of tumbling down the stairs, more thoughtful and insightful.

The unusual break in the middle signifies an end and a beginning in middle of the poem; perhaps because we return to the literal.

Langston Hughes; Sylvester’s Dying Bed

In Sylvester’s Dying Bed, the vernacular familiar to Hughes from childhood is paramount. In other poems, Standard English is used, but here, the speaker’s story is unique to its organic roots. The words dont just tell the story, they are the story. Of course, this gives the poem a tune of its own, we hear the voice of an immigrant, the mourning of loss is not just any mourning, it is unique to the customs/wailings/tune of its culture, which gives the poem its melodic quality; swayin’ an’ chantin’.

Hughes seems to be telling a story that he does not want lost in translation. It is the story of life, death, love. Perhaps for Hughes they are inseparable from their ethnic roots; for once they are cut off/ integrated to the faceless melting pot, these fundamentals can be rendered meaningless; general concepts perceived by the general population instead of the unique individual interacting the irreplaceable family.

Li Young-Lee; Early in the Morning

Early in the Morning seeps with nostalgia; a common setting for childhood memories, but also common for immigrants. Many images in the poem are conducive for nostalgia; the time of day, especially morning, especially early. Foods of childhood, especially local foods and customs. Birds remind us of time. Common or even mundane practices such as combing hair are anchors that remind us how special it was to be a child within the predictable stability of family. Her mother repeats the motion every day, her father like it just so. The poem flows with continuity; first we imagine the long grain, then the long hair. We begin with the light of early morning, and end behind the dark shroud of the unknown evening. The hair like curtains, the imagery hiding our imagery, left to wonder as a child might.

Marge Piercy; Barbie Doll

Barbie Doll is a strong poem. I could feel the rhythm, hard and prodding; challenging at every turn our conscience, our utopian hopes for society. Perhaps this is a characteristic of a Beat poet. With the quickening pace, the imagery finds uncomfortable corners of our mind; the words are relentless and carefully chosen, from the title, to the stark details of death. Barbie Doll hurts; you don’t want to face the reality of the next line, but you must, like a tragic scene unfolding in front of you, you want to turn away, but you can’t.

Getting Divorced

In "People Getting Divorced" Lawrence Ferlingehtti uses the Analogy to connect actual events and objects with indirectly related happenings. A person forced to live in his car is forced to take all of his possessions with them; uprooted, without the comfort once had of knowing where their belongings belong, and where they will always be. A divorced person is without roots, without confidence and stability. One begins to see themselves no more grounded then an errant shoe, so easily lost. "Wondering what happened, to everyone and everything.." Suddenly nothing is certain, nothing is in its place. You question your values and choices.
He compares a pair of shoes to a married couple; one cannot be independent of the other. He wonders if the lost shoe can find a mate, sounds a bit weird, how likely is that? Perhaps when we got married we too were so; like a pair of shoes, compatible for non other. But now the shoe is on the wrong foot. Irreversible differences render the couple as compatible as two random shoes.

Ginsberg's America

The poem America by Alen Ginsberg is a strange work of art. It can appear as random thoughts jotted down (perhaps even in preparation for a poem) as opposed to an actual poem. He even dates the poem within the poem. Although the rhythm is there -the poem is a chant and a cry- it is perhaps more apparent to the trained eye as rather to my own.
As I read Ginsberg’s poem it seemed as though almost every line was displaying another side of character from a writer with an obvious complex personality. His strong statements are dark and laced with disgust and apathy, yet always coming back/tying in humor and wit.

One thing is certain, the speaker/writer is disenchanted, strongly. He speaks as a member of a sub-society/culture, disconnected from society at large and the reality they choose to see. A period in America’s history that is remembered as a time of growth and optimism.

The Day Lady Died

Some poems are timeless. In Facing It Yusef Komunyakaa uses imagery and references to his a specific time and place, regarding specific people. Yet, years later, I can relate as a civilian. On the other hand, Frank O'Hara's poem is so personal, I feel like an outsider, if not an intruder. He begins with a precise loctaion and time, and proceeds to report in great detail seemingly mundane (yet to him meaningful because of what happened that day) activities. Yet I am lost. What is the significance of his Friday afternoon routine? Who is Lady? How do I relate to all that went through his mind as he saw the everyday things he did through a new light when I don't even know what happened!?