Diction and Structure in C.D. Wright's Our Dust

Our Dust - Discuss Darwin Ching "Our Dust" by C.D. Wright is a short poem about a deceased poet reaching out and speaking to her next generation in more modern times, which in this case is the reader. The poem is clearly expressed with the author's specific use of diction, and structure. Dictions and structure are the foundation of any literary work. To begin with, Wright uses the word "you" to address the person she is speaking to rather than more specific and definitive names. This word choice creates a mysterious atmosphere and raises the question: Who is this "you" person that the author is trying to reach out to? The diction that the writer uses leaves the character nameless. In addition, from lines 7-8, the quote "and I coupling on the landing en route to our detached day" is quite an oxymoron. From a word that symbolizes two things becoming one to a word that means the complete opposite, it is fairly contradicting. Moreover, the use of the adjective "black" in the last two lines of the poem raises another question for the reader. The colour black usually denotes authority and power, since black contains all colours of the spectrum, it should evoke string emotions. Yet, the poet herself doesn't seem like the type of person who dictates policy. Furthermore, Wright structures her poem according to it's importance. She first writes about things she says on her first encounter with the character, then talks about the numerous poems she writes, and then finally moves on to talking about her life. Each time the idea of feeling toward the subject is seemingly more tragic and more meaningful as the poem moves on. In fact, this poem would not have made much of an impression if the order of incidents was disordered. C.D. Wright uses her incredible skill to create a strong impression through not only the structure of the poem but also her word choice used throughout the poem which clouds the reader in a mysterious atmosphere. The mastery of the