Facing It By Yusef Komunyakaa Summary

“My black face fades, hiding inside the black granite.” An African American wrote “Facing It”, by Yusef Komunyakaa. Facing It, is a poem that is talking about being strong, war, black wall, names, and Vietnam Veteran. What’s he facing? Why is looking at the black wall with thousands of names on it so hard? Why is he holding back tears? When he could just face it? Being strong is not always good. While Komunyakaa, takes us on a journey about him being strong, being a vet, the sky, changing the past, and a mother. “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.” As he struggles with letting out his emotions. He is stating that he is strong as “I’m stone. I’m flesh.” Even though, he said he wouldn’t, he has to face it, with “It” being the wall. Also, the war and his part he plays in the war. The poet attempts to keep self-control, but is split: equally “stone” emotionless, …show more content…
It is about a black veteran male, who went to view the black wall with veteran names on it. As he views it, he tries to hold back his tears, to be strong. As he continue to look at the wall and escape the pain he was feeling, he ended up on the inside. He felt trapped, looking for the light. He continues down the wall and touches his, least expecting for it to be on there. He sees a woman; he disappears as a bird distracts him to a plane in the sky. Soon, a white veteran appears on to the wall. Although it does seem that he is looking in to a window, sense they have experience war. They could connect on a different level with one-another. As the woman tries to erase names, and go back in time, his blurriness in his eyes got the best of him as it was a mother brushing her son’s hair. That is where the image has directed me to believe he could not be strong anymore, and he lost