GloryGlory

By: Yusef KomunyakaaBy: Yusef Komunyakaa

Background Background In 1947, Yusef Komunyakaa was born in Bogalusa, Louisiana, and the oldest of In 1947, Yusef Komunyakaa was born in Bogalusa, Louisiana, and the oldest of

five childrenfive children He was originally named James Willie Brown, but reclaimed the last name that his He was originally named James Willie Brown, but reclaimed the last name that his

grandparents had given up when they came to America from Trinidadgrandparents had given up when they came to America from Trinidad Komunyakaa graduated high school in 1965 and went straight into the armyKomunyakaa graduated high school in 1965 and went straight into the army He served in Vietnam as an editor for the military newspaper He served in Vietnam as an editor for the military newspaper Southern CrossSouthern Cross and and

as an information specialistas an information specialist He was awarded the Bronze Star for his serviceHe was awarded the Bronze Star for his service In 1973 he began writing poetry and went to the University of Colorado and In 1973 he began writing poetry and went to the University of Colorado and

graduated in 1975 graduated in 1975 His first book of poems, His first book of poems, Dedications & Other DarkhorsesDedications & Other Darkhorses, was published in 1977, , was published in 1977,

followed by followed by Lost in the Bonewheel FactoryLost in the Bonewheel Factory in 1979 in 1979 In 1979 he also earned a Master’s degree at Colorado State University, and In 1979 he also earned a Master’s degree at Colorado State University, and

another in 1980 from the University of California at Irvineanother in 1980 from the University of California at Irvine Komunyakaa started out teaching in the New Orleans public school system and Komunyakaa started out teaching in the New Orleans public school system and

went on to teach at several universities across America including University of went on to teach at several universities across America including University of New Orleans, Colorado State University, University of California at Irvine and at New Orleans, Colorado State University, University of California at Irvine and at Berkeley, and Indiana University at BloomingtonBerkeley, and Indiana University at Bloomington

He is currently the Humanities Professor of Creative Writing at Princeton He is currently the Humanities Professor of Creative Writing at Princeton UniversityUniversity

He married a fiction writer from Australia named Mandy SayerHe married a fiction writer from Australia named Mandy Sayer

His WorkHis Work

Komunyakaa grew up in the south during the Civil Rights Komunyakaa grew up in the south during the Civil Rights movement and served in Vietnam which are the two main movement and served in Vietnam which are the two main inspirations of his poetryinspirations of his poetry

His work is known for its short lines, its simple vernacular, His work is known for its short lines, its simple vernacular, its jazzy feel, and its rootedness in the poet's experience as its jazzy feel, and its rootedness in the poet's experience as a black of the American South, and as a decorated veteran a black of the American South, and as a decorated veteran of the Vietnam War. of the Vietnam War.

Komunyakaa first received wide recognition following the Komunyakaa first received wide recognition following the 1984 publication of his work 1984 publication of his work CopaceticCopacetic

He won the 1994 Pulitzer Prize for poetry for his volume He won the 1994 Pulitzer Prize for poetry for his volume Neon Vernacular: New and Selected PoemsNeon Vernacular: New and Selected Poems

He is also well known for his book of poems He is also well known for his book of poems Magic City Magic City which which is about his childhood and growing up with racial tensionis about his childhood and growing up with racial tension

Other awards that he have won include: 2 Creative Writing Other awards that he have won include: 2 Creative Writing Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts Fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts (1981, 1987), (1981, 1987), The Thomas Forcade Award (1991), The Hanes Poetry Prize The Thomas Forcade Award (1991), The Hanes Poetry Prize (1997), (1997), Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets (1999), and Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets (1999), and The Morton Dauwen Zabel Award from the American The Morton Dauwen Zabel Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters (1998)Academy of Arts and Letters (1998)

GloryGloryMost were married teenagersMost were married teenagersWorking knockout shifts daybreakWorking knockout shifts daybreakTo sunset six days a week –To sunset six days a week –Already old men Playing ball Already old men Playing ball In a field between a row of shotgun In a field between a row of shotgun

houseshouses& the Magazine Lumber Company.& the Magazine Lumber Company.They were all Jackie Robinson They were all Jackie Robinson & Willie Mays, a touch of & Willie Mays, a touch of Josh Gibson & Satchell PaigeJosh Gibson & Satchell PaigeIn each stance and swing, a promiseIn each stance and swing, a promiseLike a hesitation pitch alwaysLike a hesitation pitch alwaysAt the edge of their lives,At the edge of their lives,Arms sharp as rifles.Arms sharp as rifles.The Sunday afternoon heat The Sunday afternoon heat Flared like thin flowered skirtsFlared like thin flowered skirtsAs children and wives cheered.As children and wives cheered.The men were like catsThe men were like catsRunning backwards to snagRunning backwards to snagPop-ups & high-flies offPop-ups & high-flies offFences, stealing each other’s glory.Fences, stealing each other’s glory.The old deacons & raconteurs The old deacons & raconteurs Who umpired made an Out or Safe Who umpired made an Out or Safe Into a song & dance routine.Into a song & dance routine.Runners hit the dirtRunners hit the dirt& slid into home plate,& slid into home plate,Cleats catching light, Cleats catching light, As they conjured escapes, outfoxingAs they conjured escapes, outfoxingDouble plays. In the few seconds Double plays. In the few seconds It took a man to eye a women It took a man to eye a women Upon the makeshift bleachers, Upon the makeshift bleachers, A stolen base or homerunA stolen base or homerunWould help another manWould help another manSurvive the new week.Survive the new week.

Poetic ElementsPoetic Elements ““Most were married teenagers working knockout shifts”Most were married teenagers working knockout shifts”

– This is a metaphor saying that their work is so tough it almost knocks them outThis is a metaphor saying that their work is so tough it almost knocks them out ““Already old men playing ball”Already old men playing ball”

– This is a metaphor comparing the young men to old men because their encounter to This is a metaphor comparing the young men to old men because their encounter to such adult things and the difficulty from their work makes the young men seem oldersuch adult things and the difficulty from their work makes the young men seem older

““They were all Jackie Robinson & Willie They were all Jackie Robinson & Willie MaysMays, a touch of Josh Gibson & Satchell , a touch of Josh Gibson & Satchell PaigePaige””

– This is assonance because of the ‘a’ sound in Mays and PaigeThis is assonance because of the ‘a’ sound in Mays and Paige “… “… SatchelSatchel Paige in each Paige in each stancestance & & swingswing, a promise.”, a promise.”

– This is alliteration because of the repetition of the ‘s’ sound in Satchel, stance and swingThis is alliteration because of the repetition of the ‘s’ sound in Satchel, stance and swing ““Cleats catching light, as they conjured escapes”Cleats catching light, as they conjured escapes”

– This is also alliteration because of the repetition of the ‘c’ sound in cleats, catching and This is also alliteration because of the repetition of the ‘c’ sound in cleats, catching and conjuredconjured

““Arms sharp as rifles”Arms sharp as rifles”– This is a simile comparing a rifle to a players arm because they are throwing hard and This is a simile comparing a rifle to a players arm because they are throwing hard and

accurate, or sharp, as a rifle accurate, or sharp, as a rifle ““The Sunday afternoon heat flared like thin flowered skirts as children and wives The Sunday afternoon heat flared like thin flowered skirts as children and wives

cheered”cheered”– This is a simile and imagery because he is describing the way the women watching the This is a simile and imagery because he is describing the way the women watching the

game looked to add more detailgame looked to add more detail ““The men were like cats running backwards to snag pop-ups & high-flies off The men were like cats running backwards to snag pop-ups & high-flies off

fences, stealing each other’s glory.”fences, stealing each other’s glory.”– This is the last simile comparing the players to cats because they were trying to catch a This is the last simile comparing the players to cats because they were trying to catch a

ball like a cat trying to get a ball thrown to themball like a cat trying to get a ball thrown to them The poem is a free verse because it has no consistent meter or rhyme patternThe poem is a free verse because it has no consistent meter or rhyme pattern

MeaningMeaning The poem speaks generally about the stress put on teenagers but specifically The poem speaks generally about the stress put on teenagers but specifically

the young, working class African Americans in the souththe young, working class African Americans in the south ““Most were married teenagers Working knockout shifts daybreak To sunset Most were married teenagers Working knockout shifts daybreak To sunset

six days a week – Already old men Playing ball.” six days a week – Already old men Playing ball.” – In these lines Komunyakaa says the teenagers are “already old men playing ball” because they are In these lines Komunyakaa says the teenagers are “already old men playing ball” because they are

exposed to the hard life which an adult experiences. They try to forget about their hardships by exposed to the hard life which an adult experiences. They try to forget about their hardships by focusing on the game. They play the sport to relieve them of the stress that the long, difficult shifts put focusing on the game. They play the sport to relieve them of the stress that the long, difficult shifts put on them.on them.

Kobena Mercer says that, “Social definitions of what it is to be a man, about Kobena Mercer says that, “Social definitions of what it is to be a man, about what constitutes ‘manliness,’ are not ‘natural’ but are historically constructed what constitutes ‘manliness,’ are not ‘natural’ but are historically constructed and this construction is culturally variable…Black male gender identities have and this construction is culturally variable…Black male gender identities have been culturally constructed through complex dialectics of power” been culturally constructed through complex dialectics of power” Komunyakaa is also speaking about these player’s masculinity and this quote Komunyakaa is also speaking about these player’s masculinity and this quote shows that what these player’s think they need to be a man is power. They shows that what these player’s think they need to be a man is power. They get power through their skill at the sport. This is why Komunyakaa says, “get power through their skill at the sport. This is why Komunyakaa says, “A A stolen base or homerun Would help another man Survive the new week.” The glory that stolen base or homerun Would help another man Survive the new week.” The glory that they get from that feeling of power can get them through their difficult days at work. they get from that feeling of power can get them through their difficult days at work.

““The men were like cats Running backwards to snag Pop-ups & high-flies off Fences, The men were like cats Running backwards to snag Pop-ups & high-flies off Fences, stealing each other’s glory.”stealing each other’s glory.”

– These linesThese lines show the men doing all they can to get this glory and it also further shows the men not show the men doing all they can to get this glory and it also further shows the men not thinking about their jobs where they are overworked and underpaid all day because they do not have thinking about their jobs where they are overworked and underpaid all day because they do not have time to think about their hardships but only concentrate on what their eyes are set on at the momenttime to think about their hardships but only concentrate on what their eyes are set on at the moment. .

Theme and ToneTheme and Tone The theme of this poem is that every thing will work out in the end The theme of this poem is that every thing will work out in the end

and never give up because if there is something difficult in your life, and never give up because if there is something difficult in your life, like the long work days for these men, there is also something good like the long work days for these men, there is also something good in your life, like the game for the men, that can get your mind off it in your life, like the game for the men, that can get your mind off it and get you through it so it does work out in the end. and get you through it so it does work out in the end.

The tone of the poem would be rejuvenation and hopefulness The tone of the poem would be rejuvenation and hopefulness – Rejuvenation because the men feel older then they are because of their Rejuvenation because the men feel older then they are because of their

work and baseball makes them feel young again and livens them upwork and baseball makes them feel young again and livens them up– Hopefulness because the game is giving them the hope and strength Hopefulness because the game is giving them the hope and strength

they need to get through the day without cracking under the pressure they need to get through the day without cracking under the pressure that is being put on them through their workthat is being put on them through their work

The metaphor “Already old men playing ball” effects the tone The metaphor “Already old men playing ball” effects the tone because it shows that they need to be rejuvenated by the game and because it shows that they need to be rejuvenated by the game and become young againbecome young again

The simile “The men were like cats running backwards to snag pop-The simile “The men were like cats running backwards to snag pop-ups & high-flies off fences, stealing each other’s glory” backs-up the ups & high-flies off fences, stealing each other’s glory” backs-up the theme proving that these men never give uptheme proving that these men never give up

Connections Connections http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMZGOnFer4khttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMZGOnFer4k We connected this poem to Bob Marley’s song Three Little Birds, We connected this poem to Bob Marley’s song Three Little Birds,

because he is saying that everything will be alright like the theme of because he is saying that everything will be alright like the theme of the poem that everything will work out in the end. Also, where the the poem that everything will work out in the end. Also, where the men have baseball to get through their tough time, he has the three men have baseball to get through their tough time, he has the three little birds.little birds.

For the previous reading connection, we connected it to Contents of For the previous reading connection, we connected it to Contents of the Dead Man’s Pocket by Jack Finneythe Dead Man’s Pocket by Jack Finney

In this story the man is always working to hard and when he is in his In this story the man is always working to hard and when he is in his difficult spot, on the side of the building, he started to think about difficult spot, on the side of the building, he started to think about his wife, something good in his life to get him through, just as the his wife, something good in his life to get him through, just as the men turn to baseballmen turn to baseball