To focus on myself

In a 2018 interview, Natalie Diaz said, “to return back to the body because as an indigenous person, as a Latina, as a queer woman, I haven’t been given the permission or the space, to be fully in my body.” She declared that she would no longer focus on external voices judging her, but rather concentrate on her inner self and her essence. It’s time to look at how her determination is manifested in ‘My Brother at 3 A.M.’

In the overall context of the poem, there is no defined ‘I’ as a character. Therefore, one might argue that there is also no speaker, but through the title ‘My Brother,’ it could be interpreted that the poem is about the speaker observing their brother and family. On a superficial level, the poem portrays the speaker’s brother feeling that a ‘demon’ is approaching him. And while the mother remains unaware of this, she eventually realizes it as the demon comes closer at the end.

However, considering an interview Natalie gave, this poem could be interpreted differently. Again, in the interview, she aimed to focus on her essence. In this view, the demon approaching the brother in the poem could be seen as external factors, namely external gazes, preventing Natalie from focusing on herself. Natalie is Latina and a queer woman. She knows herself very well. And she strives to focus on her essence and the voices within herself. However, there is a looming demon. It could be the “gaze” of people or the ‘words’ they say to her. Initially, like the ‘mother’ in the poem, she might not have noticed this demon. But she is aware of it in her mind, the subconscious, represented by the ‘brother,’ screams as the demon approaches. When she couldn’t fully focus on her essence, she would have considered about others’ thoughts or gazes. And subconsciously, it is appeared in the actions of the ‘mother’ in the poem. The ‘mother’ in the poem remains unaware of the approaching demon. However eventually, she realizes consciously and subconsciously that she continues to be concerned about the external gazes and thoughts disguised as demons.

How might she have reacted upon realizing the external demon? This could be understood from an interview she gave in 2018. She will strive even harder to focus on the voices she hears within her mind and her essence. As a Latina, as a queer woman, there may be times when she feels uneasy and unable to focus on herself. During those times, she may see the ‘demon’ lurking in front of her again. However, despite that, continuing to focus on herself until the end is what she truly considers important.

Jisoo Jang

Rhythmic Chaos in Cadence

For this assignment, we are presented with “We are All Whitman: #2: Song of/to/My/Your/Self” by Luis Ambroggio and “I Sing the Body Electric” by Walt Whitman. After discussing “I Sing the Body Electric” in class with my fellow peers, I have taken the intricacies of rhythm into account. When reading this poem, there are extreme inclines and declines in the reader’s voice as they read aloud every line. In class, there were two visual and auditory demonstrations of the inclines and declines within the poem. By the time my professor had finished Whitman’s poem, he was out of breath. However, during the reading there was an electric sensation that echoed in the room due to the cadence and tone. That specific cadence that is amplified and it resembles the chaotic nature of being human. When we dissect the lines, which focus on the body, there are moments where a certain body part is gendered by Whitman. Whitman, of course this is what we would like to believe, is placing both men and women on an equal playing field. Ambroggio’s poem that alludes to Whitman, conveys parallel focal points in rhythm and cadence. There are two videos provided where three poets read “Song to Myself” by Walt Whitman. One of the videos is demonstrating the diversity in translation when reading the same poem. The second presents the three poets who give direct translations as well as their analysis on the question of sensuality.

In Ambroggio’s poem the reader is already embraced by the multitude of colors that exist in this universe, “Hispanic, Latin, blond, black,” (Line 1). When Whitman’s poem “Song to Myself” was read aloud by the three speakers, there were again inclines and declines in the tones of each. One reader spoke in English, the other in Spanish, and lastly in Persian. The Spanish translation exemplified euphony in comparison to Whitman’s “I Sing the Body Electric.” Similarly, in Ambroggio’s poem there are tangible qualities that resemble “I Sing the Body Electric” such as the enumeration. Both poets discuss different periods of the spectrum within the human experience, one is more physical than the other. I can only imagine the copious amount of slopes created in Ambroggio’s poem. Even just by reading it aloud to myself, I am left with the sense of freedom and passion for the human experience despite bearing somewhat nihilistic thoughts. And while there is no rhyme scheme for both of these poems, there remains structure. The rhythmic listing of races, body parts, ethnicities, gender, and nature are a part of the human experience.

Emily Pu