The Complexity Of Humanity In War Poetry

Humans are the most complex beings to ever walk the face of the Earth. Unlike the other primates who have inhabited the planet, humans have massive brains for their body size (Rettner). Not only are our brains massive, but they contain much more folding than those of other mammals (Rettner). This increased brain ability allows humans to see the world in many different ways, creating thousands of unique facets. Poets such as Yusef Komunyakaa and Rudyard Kipling have discovered that one of the best ways to reveal these facets is through analysis of human behavior during a war. In such a time of crisis, most people show their true colors, revealing the many complexities of humanity. In the war poems ‘The Choice” by Rudyard Kipling and “Facing
Komunyakaa develops this side of humanity when he writes, “I see the booby trap’s white flash” (Komunyakaa 18). In this quote, Komunyakaa specifically describes the booby trap’s explosion as a “white flash.” The word “flash,” is often seen with a negative connotation as the reader imagines the blinding lights of cameras snapping photos. The cameras flash over and over until one cannot see past the spots dancing before their eyes. The vast majority of people enjoy the ability to see, so this sudden loss of vision is viewed with a negative attitude. The negative tone of the quote is only increased by describing the flash as white. The color white is often associated with winter, in which snow blankets the ground in all directions. Winter communicates such a negative tone due to its bitter cold, which sucks the nutrients from life. As the devastating cold spreads its wicked tendrils, thousands of plants around the world shrivel upon themselves and die. By describing the flash as white, Komunyakaa creates an even more negative tone within the quote, filling the readers head with thoughts of the barren wasteland that is winter. In his quote, Komunyakaa alludes to death in a very negative manner, applying descriptive word choice to achieve the perfect tone of awfulness. This negative tone within
The first human facets that Komunyakaa differentiated in his poem were those of self-image. He first shows the many complexities of self-image when he says, “I’m stone. I’m flesh” (Komunyakaa 5). In this quote, the author compares himself to two complete opposites, the weak and vulnerable human flesh and the unbreakable stone. This quote perfectly shows the many complexities of human nature. Even within one person, there are no set rules for their self-image. At one moment, the author perceives himself as strong as stone, and within seconds his will has crumbled into dust. Komunyakaa again analyzes the complexities of self-image by describing his reflection to the reader. He announces, “My clouded reflection eyes me like a bird of prey, the profile of night” (Komunyakaa 6-7). Within this quote, the reader can see two different reflections of the author. First, the author describes his reflection as clouded, bringing an image of a hazy and unfocused painting into mind. However, with the second part of the quote, the author creates a perfect contrast. In the second section of the quote, Komunyakaa compares himself to a bird of prey. Because Komunyakaa described this bird as the profile of night, the reader knows that he is envisioning a hunter of