Facing It
by Yusef Komunyakaa
My black face fades,
hiding inside the black granite.
I said I wouldn’t
Dammit: No tears.
I’m stone. I’m flesh.
My clouded reflection eyes me
like a bird of prey, the profile of night
slanted against morning. I turn
this way, the stone lets me go.
I turn that way, I’m inside
the Vietnam Veterans Memorial again, depending on the light
to make a difference.
I walk among the 58,022 names,
half‑expecting to find
my own in letters like smoke.
I touch the name Andrew Johnson; I see the white flash of a booby trap.
Names shimmer on a woman’s blouse but when she walks away the names stay on the wall.
Brushstrokes flash, a red bird’s wings cutting across my stare.
The sky. A plane in the sky.
A white veteran’s image floats closer to me; then his pale eyes look through mine. I am a window.
He has lost his right arm inside the stone.
In the black mirror, a woman is trying to erase names:
No, she’s brushing a boy’s hair.
Unveiling “Facing It”: A Journey Through Memory and Reflection
Yusef Komunyakaa’s “Facing It” stands as a profoundly moving and essential poem, offering a raw and intimate glimpse into the mind of a Vietnam War veteran confronting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. This powerful work has resonated deeply with countless readers, establishing itself as a cornerstone in discussions about war, memory, and identity. The poem’s enduring popularity stems from its unflinching honesty and its masterful portrayal of a universal human struggle: the attempt to reconcile with a traumatic past.
What “Facing It” Is About: A Glimpse into the Veteran’s Soul
“Facing It” captures the speaker’s visit to the iconic black granite wall of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. From the very first lines, the poem immerses readers in the speaker’s complex emotional landscape as his reflection merges with the polished stone and the names etched upon it. This physical and metaphorical merging highlights the deep connection the veteran feels to the fallen, blurring the lines between the living and the dead, the present and the past. The poem is not merely a remembrance of those lost; it is a vivid exploration of how war irrevocably shapes the lives of those who survive, leaving indelible marks on their psyche.
Central Ideas and Noteworthy Insights
At its core, “Facing It” explores the profound themes of trauma, memory, and identity. The speaker grapples with an intense internal conflict: a desperate attempt to suppress overwhelming emotions, as declared in the stark lines, “I said I wouldn’t
Dammit: No tears.” Yet, despite this resolve, traumatic memories resurface with startling clarity, triggered by the memorial itself. The poem vividly illustrates the enduring impact of war, showing how past experiences continue to haunt and define the present. It also touches upon the unique experience of a Black veteran, subtly weaving in the complexities of race and visibility within the broader narrative of war and remembrance. The memorial becomes more than just a list of names; it transforms into a mirror reflecting personal pain, a window into shared suffering, and a silent witness to an ongoing struggle for peace.
An In-Depth Analysis of “Facing It”
Komunyakaa’s “Facing It” is a masterclass in poetic craftsmanship, employing a rich tapestry of literary and poetic devices to convey its powerful message. Each element works in concert to create an immersive and emotionally charged experience for the reader, inviting a deeper understanding of the veteran’s profound journey.
Literary Devices in “Facing It”
The poem’s emotional depth and vivid imagery are significantly enhanced by Komunyakaa’s skillful use of various literary devices.
- Imagery: Painting with Words
Komunyakaa employs striking imagery to appeal to the reader’s senses and evoke the speaker’s internal and external worlds. Visual details are paramount, such as “My black face fades, hiding inside the black granite,” which immediately establishes the setting and the speaker’s merging identity. The chilling “white flash of a booby trap” brings a sudden, violent memory to life, while “letters like smoke” conveys the ephemeral and haunting nature of the names on the wall. Even the fleeting “red bird’s wings cutting across my stare” provides a momentary, vibrant contrast to the somber granite, hinting at life persisting amidst loss. - Metaphor: The Wall as a Mirror and More
Metaphor is central to the poem’s meaning, with the Vietnam Veterans Memorial serving as a multifaceted symbol. It is not merely a monument but a living entity that reflects the speaker’s inner turmoil. The declaration “I’m stone. I’m flesh” is a powerful metaphor, revealing the speaker’s attempt to harden himself against emotion, to become as unyielding as the stone, while simultaneously acknowledging his human vulnerability and pain. Later, the speaker states, “I am a window,” suggesting a transparency, a conduit through which the past and present, the living and the dead, can be seen and understood. - Simile: Striking Comparisons
Komunyakaa uses simile to create vivid and often unsettling comparisons. The line “My clouded reflection eyes me like a bird of prey” immediately establishes a sense of unease and self-scrutiny. The speaker feels hunted or judged by his own image, perhaps by the weight of his past. Another poignant simile appears when the speaker half-expects to find his own name “in letters like smoke,” conveying the fragility of life, the ephemeral nature of memory, and the constant threat of oblivion that war imposes. - Personification: Giving Life to the Inanimate
Personification imbues inanimate objects with human qualities, deepening the connection between the speaker and his surroundings. When the speaker turns, he observes, “the stone lets me go.” This suggests a reciprocal relationship with the memorial, as if the wall itself possesses an awareness, acknowledging his presence and then releasing him, only to draw him back in. This personification underscores the memorial’s profound emotional power over the veteran. - Symbolism: Layers of Meaning
The black granite wall is the poem’s most potent symbol, representing not only the collective loss of life in Vietnam but also the enduring scars of war, the weight of memory, and the difficulty of reconciliation. The names etched on the wall symbolize individual lives, each a distinct tragedy, yet collectively they form an overwhelming testament to sacrifice. The color black itself symbolizes mourning, grief, and the darkness of trauma. The “red bird’s wings” can be seen as a symbol of fleeting life, beauty, or even a moment of grace amidst the somber reflections. - Enjambment: A Flow of Thought and Emotion
The poem’s use of enjambment, where sentences or phrases carry over from one line to the next without punctuation, creates a sense of continuous flow and urgency. Consider these lines:My clouded reflection eyes me
like a bird of prey, the profile of night
slanted against morning. I turn
this way, the stone lets me go.This technique mirrors the speaker’s stream of consciousness, the way memories and observations blend seamlessly, and the relentless, unbroken nature of his emotional experience at the memorial. It pulls the reader forward, mimicking the speaker’s own internal momentum.
- Sound Devices: Musicality and Emphasis
Komunyakaa subtly employs sound devices to enhance the poem’s texture and emotional impact.- Alliteration, the repetition of initial consonant sounds, can be heard in phrases like “black face fades” and “black granite,” drawing attention to the speaker’s merging identity and the memorial’s material.
- Assonance, the repetition of vowel sounds, adds a subtle musicality. The short ‘a’ sound in “My black face fades” creates a sense of lingering, while the long ‘i’ in “hiding inside” emphasizes the internal nature of his struggle.
- Consonance, the repetition of consonant sounds within or at the end of words, contributes to the poem’s sonic richness. The repeated ‘s’ sound in “names shimmer on a woman’s blouse but when she walks away the names stay on the wall” creates a soft, lingering quality, echoing the persistent presence of the names.
Poetic Devices and Structure in “Facing It”
Beyond individual literary techniques, the overall structure and form of “Facing It” contribute significantly to its impact.
- Free Verse: Unfettered Expression
The poem is written in free verse, meaning it does not adhere to a strict rhyme scheme or metrical pattern. This choice allows Komunyakaa to create a natural, conversational, and deeply personal tone. The absence of rigid structure mirrors the unconstrained flow of memory and emotion, giving the poem an authentic voice that feels immediate and unfiltered. It allows the language to breathe and the emotional weight to settle without artificial constraints. - Single Stanza: A Continuous Stream
“Facing It” is presented as a single, unbroken stanza. This structural choice is highly effective in conveying the overwhelming and continuous nature of the speaker’s experience at the memorial. There are no breaks, no pauses, reflecting the relentless stream of thoughts, memories, and observations that flood the veteran’s mind. It suggests an unbroken contemplation, a deep immersion in the past that offers no easy escape. - Shifting Perspectives and Time: Blurring Boundaries
Komunyakaa masterfully shifts between the speaker’s immediate present at the memorial, vivid flashbacks to his time in Vietnam, and imagined scenarios. This creates a fragmented and disorienting effect, mirroring the psychological impact of trauma. For example, the present observation of “I walk among the 58,022 names” quickly gives way to the traumatic memory of “I see the white flash of a booby trap.” Later, the image of “A white veteran’s image floats closer to me; then his pale eyes look through mine. I am a window” blurs the lines between self and other, past and present, highlighting the collective nature of their shared experience. The poem concludes with an ambiguous observation, “In the black mirror, a woman is trying to erase names: No, she’s brushing a boy’s hair,” which shifts from a grim interpretation to a tender, everyday act, showing the mind’s struggle to process and reconcile.
The Enduring Resonance of “Facing It”
“Facing It” remains a profoundly powerful and deeply moving poem that continues to resonate with readers across generations. Through its skillful integration of literary and poetic devices, Yusef Komunyakaa offers a deeply personal yet universally relatable exploration of war, loss, and the enduring power of memory. The poem invites us to confront the difficult truths of conflict, to acknowledge the invisible wounds carried by veterans, and to reflect on the ways we remember and honor those who have served. It is a testament to the human spirit’s struggle for reconciliation and peace in the face of profound trauma, making it an essential piece of contemporary literature.