The Poetry of Komunyakaa (Masterplots II: African American Literature Series)
At a glance:
- Author: James Willie Brown
- First Published: 1977
- Type of Work: Poetry
- Genres: Poetry
- Subjects: African Americans, Civil rights, 1960’s, Racism, South or Southerners, Self, Slavery or slaves, Autobiography, Poetry or poets, Poverty or poor people, Vietnam War, War, Jazz music, Soldiers
Although Yusef Komunyakaa is particularly known for Dien Cai Dau, which depicts various aspects of the Vietnam War, he also addresses other dimensions of the African American experience not commonly discussed by other poets. His extensive treatment of the old South, in particular, is unique for its mixture of poignancy and nostalgia. While employing African American art forms such as jazz and the blues, he is also a virtuoso of the dramatic monologue, the soliloquy, and the surrealist juxtaposition of surprising images. Critic Matthew Flamm has described him as “pain’s...
[The entire page is 3036 words long]
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