Summary Of Commitments By Essex Hemphill

“Commitments” by Essex Hemphill is a poem written by an African American Poet that has used his writings to express his belief that gay people have a right to live their life the way that they are. In this particular poem, the writer uses many literary elements to express his theme. The main theme in this poem is commitment to family obligations amongst personal battles of loneliness. The writer is committed to carrying out his familial obligations, regardless to the loneliness and inability to be himself around his family. Throughout the entire poem references are made to his family, family gatherings, and his appearances amongst this family. I believe the writer is desperately trying to exist as a gay male in a conservative family that may very well be unaccepting or disapproving of his lifestyle. The writers utilizes Imagery as one element to create an image of a happy family. …show more content…
The writer expressed his commitment to carrying out his obligations to his family, such as showing up smiling to family gatherings, although he may be saddened by the fact that he cannot bring his lover. I will always be there/ When the silence is exhumed/when the photographs are examined/I will be pictured smiling/among siblings, parents/nieces and nephews (lines 1-5). In this stanza the writer is clearly sad and although the words paint a picture of a happy family the writers word choice, “exhumed” clues the reader into some hidden sadness as the word is often used to described digging up or discovering something, so that word lets you know that there is more to the story than what is