Nick Makoha wrote the poem “The Kingdom of Gravity” to describe how his world was shaped by his experiences as a Ugandan refugee. This poem reflects Makoha’s personal life and how he had to flee the country of Uganda due to the political turmoil under the dictatorship of Idi Amin. I think that the speaker himself is very credible, as he underwent the experiences mentioned in the poem, and he had to undergo a difficult time in his home country of Uganda. The title of the poem provides an underlying meaning that connects it to the rest of the poem. The word “Gravity” in the title suggests a sense of heaviness, which can imply a struggle that the poet faces. “Kingdom”, also in the title, can suggest a sense of power and order taking place within the poem. Some specific lines expand on the poem’s overall tone of fragility, such as when the author says that he was “awakened by the night cold hard rain.” This line shows the harshness and severity he had to live through and encounter throughout his journey. ‘Kingdom of Gravity’ can be identified as a contemporary poem that is written in free verse. This is considered a contemporary poem because it explores themes that are relevant to the modern world, such as those of migration and the experiences of refugees. The poem reflects the personal experiences of the poet and touches on the global issue of displacement, while simultaneously speaking in a conversational tone, as he avoids overly formal language. One of the elements that makes this poem free verse is the fact that there is no fixed rhyme scheme or meter. The author also uses enjambment, which is another element commonly found in free-verse poems. There also happens to be no fixed pattern of line length or stanza structure, and there is an emphasis on emotion rather than structure, which allows the author to convey his thoughts sincerely and flexibly. The fact that this poem is written in free verse allows the poet to express his emotions without feeling constrained by the rhyme or meter. The lack of a fixed structure mirrors the disorientation the poet feels in his journey as a refugee, and the poem’s shifting structure resembles the evolving nature of the poet’s experiences living in exile. The contemporary aspect of the poem helps the reader connect with the personal struggles that are described in the poem, as the emotions that the poet feels himself are easy to grasp for a more modern audience. In terms of imagery, imagery that describes aspects of nature, like the sky and land, may indicate themes of growth and renewal. This poem’s absence of nature-like descriptions can contribute to the tone of displacement and longing. In line 15, Makoha says, “In my mouth is a name hovering like smoke, spoken to me by the oracle”. This simile compares the name in his mouth which seems to be floating, to smoke. This can suggest that there is one certain name in his mind, and it is floating around out of his control. There is also a clear metaphor that is present when Makoha states, “You are a hawk silent in the voice of a midnight universe”. In this metaphor, the poet is directly comparing himself to a hawk. Hawks can often represent ‘spiritual insight, clarity of vision, and protection’, so this line seems to be an affirmation to himself to guide him forward and remind himself that he has a sense of protection, the clarity of vision, spiritual insight, and even the power of focus among his journey.
In Brenna Twohy’s “Today I am Tired of Being a Woman,” the author expands on the poem “This Is Just to Say,” by William Carlos Williams. In his poem, the plums represent the speaker’s inability to resist the lure of satisfaction. Williams’ poem may be taken as an extended metaphor for the simple joys of indulgence. The icebox that is stated in the poem represents deferred pleasure. Knowing this, Twohy mentions how she would like to be seen as the icebox, which represents indifference and insensitivity, instead of being seen as the plums, which represent desire and hidden longings. She claims to have practice in the art of being an “icebox,” as she defines herself as being cold on purpose. Twohy believes this is the only way to keep herself sane and under control. This poem represents an extended metaphor that compares her sense of coldness and frigidity, to an icebox and compares feelings of temptation to a plum fruit. The title, “Today I am Tired of Being a Woman,” is significant because it represents how women may be seen as the “plums,” and are always the objects that are desired and longed for when in reality, they should be portrayed as the “icebox” and should be seen as having rigidity and being insensitive. The line “I have practice in the art of being cold on purpose,” stands out to me. The author is not choosing to be cold or insensitive but is rather forcing herself to feel these things to protect her well-being and ability to stay stable. I think that the speaker of the poem seems to be emotionally detached, which is also shown in the line stated previously. There is a feeling present about having been hurt before, which leads the speaker of the poem to create distance to take control. Other lines in this poem also suggest a need for balance, such as when the speaker says, “How else to keep the inside from spoiling? to keep the rot from creeping in?” Too much coldness or feelings of insensitivity might prevent the speaker from feeling in general, while too little “coldness” can potentially expose them to emotional vulnerability or harm. These lines also represent an anaphora, as the word “to” is repeated to add rhythm, while also emphasizing how much the speaker finds difficulty in controlling her emotions. The author’s choice of using the words “spoiling” and “rot” has very strong negative connotations, which hint that the speaker risks becoming detached even though they are preserving themselves from getting hurt. A shift in the poem occurs between the first and second half of the poem. The first part of the poem explains the desire that the author has to be an icebox and the reason why she wants to be seen as “cold.” The second half of the poem shifts its focus to the fear of “rot” emotionally, ” which may result from being too cold or harsh to oneself. As for the linear structure, most of the lines in the poem are enjambed. The enjambment suggests one continuous thought process that remains unbroken. The first sentence of the poem, “You know that poem about the icebox and the plums?” is a question that prompts the reader to consider what the rest of the poem will be about. The overall structure of the poem does not appear to have any particular rhyme scheme, which aligns with the personal tone that the speaker withholds. In conclusion, the poem represents an extended metaphor for plums and an icebox, which is shown through the use of various literary devices, along with the structure of the poem itself.
In Brenna Twohy’s “A Coworker Asks Me If I am Sad, Still,” the author elaborates on the deeper meanings and feelings that come along with grief. The entirety of the poem represents an extended metaphor, as it directly compares grief to a neighborhood. This metaphor allows the reader to imply that grief is permanent, and can be an everlasting component of ones identity. The author appears to have a deep connection with her past, as she struggles to grasp the fact that grief will constantly be a part of her life, even when she tries to move on from the underlying feelings. By starting the poem off with stating, “Grief is not a feeling but a neighborhood,” the reader can actively think of ways in which to interpret this metaphor, and the potential hidden meanings behind the comparison of a neighborhood and grief. The line, “There’s no such thing as an unhaunted house,” stands out to be specifically because of the broader meaning. The author is suggesting that there is not an individual that has not been affected in some way, shape, or form. All people carry emotional burdens that have been placed as a result of grief, and simply cannot escape the jarring memories of loss. Twohy wants the reader to understand that there is not a single person that has not experienced grief, and has not been “haunted” by the feeling. Everyone has gone through the struggles that come along with grief, and hoping to end up in a place where one has not experienced any form of grieving is simply unrealistic. The isolation of the sentences in the last stanza creates emphasis for each individual line, and it makes it seem like those three lines are the main focus of the whole poem. I find it interesting that the title runs into the poem, and flows together in one singular sentence. This allows for emphasis to be placed on the title alone, while still starting the flow of the poem by continuing the thought. The poem overall appears to follow a linear progression, as it moves from questioning the emotional state of the author, to reflecting on the future hopes of the author. The overall structure can act as a symbol for grief, as the process of grief includes lots of contemplation about the future and ones state of being. The authors use of connotative diction in the words “mistake,” “hope,” and “love,” affect the readers own feelings, and allow the reader to get an insight into the somber and heartfelt emotions that the author feels. The word “grief” carries heavy connotations as it relates to loss and sadness, which starts the poem off with a negative and heavy theme. To contrast with the heavier tone, the word, “home,” brings forward feelings of safety and belonging, which highlights the longing for peace. The author also uses imagery to allow the reader to visualize the feelings being portrayed. The line, “This is where I come from. Everyone I love still lives there,” evokes imagery by initiating images of love and familiarity, and also evokes feelings of belongingness among the reader. Another line that specifically stands out to me is when Twohy says, “I hope to raise a family in a place you could not mistake for any home I’ve ever been in.” This line has a hopeful tone, conveying a sense of positive feelings and desire, while the rest of the poem talks about the burden of grief. The idea of raising a family as discussed in this line symbolizes growth, which can serve as a counterpoint to the feelings of grief previously discussed.
Brenna Twohy is a storyteller and an advocate from Portland, Oregon. Her poetry has been showcased on The Huffington Post, BuzzFeed, Mic, and her mother’s living room table. After representing Portland at the 2013, 2014, and 2016 National Poetry Slams, Brenna moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan. She is currently in her final year of law school, where she focuses on criminal justice reform and holistic defense work. She really wants you to go to jury duty.
