Facing It
by Yousuf 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.
Summary of Facing It
- Popularity of “Facing It”: “Facing It” is a powerful and moving poem by Yousuf Komunyakaa, a highly respected American poet. The poem delves into the complex emotional landscape of a Vietnam War veteran confronting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. It is a poignant exploration of memory, loss, and the struggle to reconcile with the past.
- “Facing It” as a Representation of Loss: The poem portrays a speaker visiting the memorial and grappling with the weight of his experiences. He feels a profound connection to the wall, seeing his own reflection merge with the names etched in black granite. The poem is not only about remembering the dead but also about how war impacts those who survive. The speaker’s internal conflict—his attempt to suppress emotions (“No tears”) versus the resurfacing of traumatic memories—is central to the poem’s power.
- Major Themes in “Facing It”: The major themes within “Facing It” center around memory, trauma, identity, and the enduring impact of war. The poem explores how the past continues to shape the present and the difficulty of finding closure. It touches on the sense of alienation and disconnect that many veterans experience and the search for meaning in the face of profound loss.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in “Facing It”
Yousuf Komunyakaa masterfully employs various literary devices in “Facing It” to enhance its emotional impact and thematic depth. These devices work together to create a rich and evocative reading experience.
- Assonance: Assonance, the repetition of vowel sounds, adds a musicality to the poem and emphasizes certain words. For example, the repetition of the short “i” sound in “like a bird of prey” creates a sense of urgency and intensity.
- Alliteration: Alliteration, the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words, also contributes to the poem’s musicality. Notice the repetition of the “f” sound in “brushstrokes flash,” emphasizing the visual imagery.
- Consonance: Consonance, the repetition of consonant sounds within words, adds texture to the poem. The repetition of the “s” sound in “names stay on the wall” creates a sense of lingering sadness.
- Enjambment: Enjambment, the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next, creates a sense of flow and momentum. For example:
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 and the way memories surface unexpectedly.
- Imagery: Komunyakaa uses vivid imagery throughout the poem, appealing to the reader’s senses. Examples include “letters like smoke” and “the booby trap’s white flash,” which evoke both the physical and emotional landscape of war.
- Metaphor: The poem relies heavily on metaphor. The wall itself is a central metaphor, representing not only the names of the dead but also the weight of memory and the enduring impact of trauma. The line “I’m stone. I’m flesh” suggests the speaker’s attempt to become numb to his emotions, to become impenetrable like the stone wall, while still acknowledging his own vulnerability.
- Personification: The use of personification gives human qualities to inanimate objects. “The stone lets me go” suggests a connection between the speaker and the memorial, as if the wall is acknowledging his presence.
- Symbolism: The black granite wall is a potent symbol of loss, remembrance, and the enduring scars of war. The names on the wall symbolize the individual lives lost, while the black color represents mourning and grief.
- Simile: Komunyakaa uses simile to create striking comparisons. The line “My clouded reflection eyes me like a bird of prey” creates a sense of unease and suggests that the speaker feels threatened or scrutinized by his own reflection.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in “Facing It”
Beyond literary devices, “Facing It” also showcases specific poetic techniques that contribute to its overall effect.
- Free Verse: The poem is written in free verse, meaning it does not adhere to a strict rhyme scheme or meter. This allows Komunyakaa to create a natural, conversational tone and to emphasize the emotional weight of the poem.
- Stanza: While technically a single stanza, the poem’s length and the shifts in thought and imagery create a sense of internal movement. The long stanza mirrors the speaker’s extended contemplation at the memorial.
- Shifting Perspective: The poem subtly shifts between the speaker’s immediate experience and flashbacks to his time in Vietnam. This creates a fragmented and disorienting effect, mirroring the speaker’s trauma.
Quotes to be Used
The following lines are particularly resonant and can be used in discussions about war, loss, or the power of memory.
My black face fades,
hiding inside the black granite.
I said I wouldn’t
Dammit: No tears.
I’m stone. I’m flesh.
These lines encapsulate the speaker’s struggle to reconcile with his past and to find a sense of identity in the face of profound loss.
“Facing It” is a powerful and moving poem that continues to resonate with readers today. Through its skillful use of literary and poetic devices, Yousuf Komunyakaa offers a deeply personal and insightful exploration of war, loss, and the enduring power of memory.