http://www.wavecomposition.com/article/issue-10/three-poems/
On Extinction by Joshua Bennett Dear Reader, Please, pardon my obsession with the end of things. I was born of two Baptists: one backslidden though no less fervent when it came to the law, the cross, the grain of me & my sister’s hair. I was born nonwhite in the 1980s, arrived in the wake of four girls slumped against a project wall resembling a long ellipsis, heron (my father’s preferred pronunciation) having coaxed their heads into solemn agreement. Mama knew three of the dying personally, but this isn’t about her, so much as how this scene became a part of our extended family, its argument clear as a bullet’s signature: son, to live in this flesh is to worship agility, to call death by its government name. The woman across the table is scared to raise her son, fears he will be killed by police, says this outright, over soup, expecting nothing. My first thought is of the landscape. For a moment, all I can see is flat green oblivion, unchecked flora where fourth-graders once sped across the open. In 1896, Frederick Hoffman claimed every Negro in the U.S. would be dead by the end of the year of my younger brother’s birth. To his credit, Hoffman dreamt of neither badge nor bullet, but dysentery, tuberculosis, killers we could not touch or beg for clemency. Hence, when I consider extinction, I do not think of sad men with guns, or Hoffman standing by the chalkboard in his office, discerning algorithms for the dead, but the sheer breadth of our refusal, how my mother, without stopping even to write a poem about it, woke up yesterday, and this morning again. One of the most interesting topics to discuss, or debate, is life after death. Coming from different backgrounds, cultures, and religions, you’ll find people have opinions and/or strong convictions on this matter. In Joshua Bennett’s poem, “On Extinction”, he delves into his upbringing and draws comparisons with the current social climate and what he sees in the future for African Americans. This poem is about recognizing the influence a racist history has on the modern and forthcoming generations of African Americans and Bennett’s definition of resilience. Bennett combines even amounts of personal testimony with historical evidence in this poem. I appreciate that he can make these strong, emotional statements in his poems and provide information from the past, allowing the reader to gain insight into his perspective on these matters. He gives the reader information into his life and his parents; “I was born of two baptists”, “I was born nonwhite in the 1980s”, “...my younger brother’s birth”. He sets up a childhood influence (the baptist church), states his non-preferred race of the time (nonwhite), and shares a personal relation to a prediction (“Frederick Hoffman claimed every Negro in the U.S. would be dead by the end of the year of my younger brother’s birth”). Bennett’s poem includes themes of hope, resilience, and reflection on the future. It’s very easy to find quotes about the past: “learn from the past or be doomed to repeat it”, “don’t let your past define your future”, “owning our past allows us to own our future”. I find myself thinking about the past while considering the thoughts about the future that Bennett presents. My favorite aspect of this poem is the timeline Bennett gives it. “Extinction” is an ultimate decision. It’s a conclusion, a final resolution, a definite outcome. For all the things it is, it does not come with an exact time. In this poem, extinction is a hostile feeling that looms around people. To live as though you are to be eradicated in time or can only survive so long as you can hold on are the impressions I get from Bennett’s words. I found references to time in Bennett’s lines; “four girls slumped against a project wall resembling a long ellipsis”, “for a moment, all I can see is flat green oblivion”, “every Negro in the U.S. would be dead by the end of the year”, “how my mother… woke up yesterday, and this morning again”. Some, final and limited like a death sentence for African Americans. Some, limitless like an ellipsis or endless mornings. For a title that seems so definitive, Bennett provides the reader opportunity to reflect on life’s boundless moments. Bennett’s references to time in this poem are not without cause, he is making a statement on the present day situation in our world regarding race. I think a lot of people find comfort in internet quotes that tell us that “life is about moving on” or “living in the past is a choice”. For some, that’s not an option as in many ways, this country has not changed at all. What somebody said in 1896 can affect lives in the 21st century. The most impacting message I drew from “On Extinction” is that the past cannot be written off as simply “the past” as the U.S. still exhibits some “historical” viewpoints and tendencies in modern times.
3 Comments
Cassidy (WV)
1/11/2017 07:38:32 am
I agree that life after death is quite an interesting topic to talk to others about. I think you did a really good job at analyzing the poem and considering how history and time played a part in the meaning of this poem. I also really enjoyed your discussion of how extinction was portrayed in the poem. Great job!
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Myla (WV)
1/11/2017 07:47:11 am
Great analysis! Death is definitely common topic to talk about, from questions such what happens when we die, where we go, or if we go. I also liked that you talked about Bennett's personal testimony of the poem. Good Job!
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Bryce
1/13/2017 05:29:13 am
This is a very good analysis. You did a great job at analyzing Bennett's references of time throughout the poem. Bennett may be making a statement on how the natural killers of the 1980s, such as dysentery and tuberculosis, have been replaced by not only the police, but a hateful feeling towards touchy subjects from our past, which causes negligence and only leads to more deaths and not a solution. You made a great analysis and it was a very good poem to read.
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