The first thing I noticed about this poem was the way the author used both diction and reading style to place emphasis on certain words or phrases. In one specific case, Layli Long Soldier chooses to stop the flow of the poem to ensure the reader noticed the emphasis pointing out that she italicized the word for emphasis. At another point, when she’s reading the poem the author takes a prolonged pause after reading one of the statements of the men who oppressed the Dakota people in order to allow the horror of his words to fully sink in. The tools used to emphasize certain tones or certain facts were very powerful in this piece and reading. Something else that struck me about this poem was its structure or the way it read. It was very different to the stereotypical style used in poetry, or what I imagine that stereotype to be. When I think of poetry I think of words that create imagery, or strong metaphors. I don’t think of genuine facts told, with relatively little emotion. While there was emotion in the piece, it was very quiet, and under the surface. I suppose the author intended it this way to push home her point that the many things can be a poem, as long as something about it is poetic, like the way the Dakota “poetically” dealt with the aforementioned oppressive man. All of this goes to say that the language that Layli Long Soldier uses in this poem is meant to push forward a certain message, and while I suppose that can very according to personal perspective, I believed that message to be this: There is poetry in life all around us, in all different forms, and all different manners of delivery; you just have to look.
2 thoughts on “Response to “38” by Layli Long Soldier”
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I agree with your thoughts that the emotion in the poem was subtle. I could notice a hint of emotion, however it felt almost like she was hiding it. I think she intentionally hid it in order to preserve the “promise” she made in the beginning of the poem, that she would not dramatize anything for an interesting read.
I noticed the same reading style which you’ve added in your writing. I found it very interesting because most poems expect the reader to understand the message by the end of the reading. Layli, on the other hand, made sure the reader understood why some things were written differently while speaking about the Dakota people. This poem also had emotions which were indirectly shown.