Yusef Komunyaaka poem “lime”


"Lime" has a contrast between love and lust, along with war and battle.  On the contrary with love and war, this particular city in Rome lost a battle that contradicted the citizen’s actions.  The citizens that lost the war eventually gave in to the war and sided with the opposing army, Women slept with the enemy and men became a part of the battle group.  While the winning army celebrated, as they marched to express their accomplishment they were premeditating on conquering other cities in Rome.  This war was a righteous war for them, simply because they believed that it was very sinful, and disgracing.  What I also interpreted and analyzed about this poem is that many of the actions that took place was based on biblical commandments, it seemed as though the army wanted to tear down this dreadful and sinful city because on adultery, and sexuality.  Today in society many countries and cities is becoming more accepting to homosexuality and adultery because there are “gay marriages’, and “polygamy marriages”.  Many people today can express their feelings in their own manner.

"The Gift", by Li-Young Lee

The Gift is an emotional and intimate poem between father and son. It depicts the relationship between father and son by connecting what may be a painful situation resulted in a loving and calm outcome.  The young boy in this poem felt closer to his father and had an experience that can never be erased.  The young boy in this poem had a splinter stuck in his finger, as his father removes it, a story is being told to him by his father which soothes the young boy.  The boy was also impressed by his father’s amiable and tender touch, which took his attention away from the pain of the splinter.  The boy described his father as being patient, and loving not only to him but with his mother as well.  In the poem the significance of “Voice” expressed a lot of emotion.  His father’s “Voice”, would instill a love in the child that would always resonate with him.  The poet emphasize “Voice”, which was a symbolism of the poem because, “Voice” expressed “masculinity”, “Sternness”, and “Security”.  A child would always have those feeling towards their father “Voice”, because of how it sound, and most of all because we tend to know by nature a father’s “voice” is not to be afraid of but to feel security, and no harm.  I can relate to this poem because I perceive my father to be my “Hero”, especially when I was looking for security.  In conclusion, “The Gift” represented what most of us take for granted can actually be a gift for us; it may not be a physical gift but a gift that’s instilled in us.