Link: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems-and-poets/poems/detail/58404 Watch out! Bad words! AAAAHH! Also, this one's kinda long. In “What it Look Like,” from Hayes’ How to be Drawn collection (2015), Hayes discusses how we are seen compared to how we see others. Hayes states that he cares “less and less about the shapes of shapes because forms change and nothing is more durable than feeling (3-5)” to point out that our emotions, feelings, and internal traits tend to remain stagnant as we change and grow externally. As an example, he describes a situation in which he is at a birthday party; he gives money to his uncle after this party, which is then used to buy crack (or some other drug that “looked like candy (7)”)—at the same time, however, his grandmother is singing in an outfit akin to that a “West African King (10).” This statement provides competing stereotypes about African Americans: one detailing the “druggie” typecast of black Americans, and the other representing African Americans’ connection with African culture/heritage. Hayes presents his motto--“Never mistake what it is for what it looks like (11)” as a means to dissipate labels, expressing that there is more to him (or anyone, for that matter) than what you can see, or what you expect to see. As the poem continues, Hayes provides examples of how his motto applies to the real world. He states that his generosity is mostly vanity, in which charitable actions serve to flatter himself; he explains that “a bandanna is a useful handkerchief, but a handkerchief is a useless-ass bandanna (13-14)” to illustrate that although one thing/person can serve multiple purposes/do many things, one should not expect the reciprocal to be true. He goes on to explain that “trill” is what truly is, regardless of how obscured the view is. “Milquetoast (24)”, a person who is submissive or timid, is not trill because his or her diffidence hides who they truly are. “Bouillabaisse (25)”, a (delicious) soup/stew composed of several different kinds of fish, is not trill because it is a fusion of spices and fishes—it does not truly express the flavor of the individual fish themselves. “Bakku-shan (25)”—Japanese slang for a woman who looks good from behind, but not from the front— exemplifies the earlier point about stereotypes surrounding African Americans; from one perspective or viewpoint, people appear favorable, but from another, they seem repulsive. Towards the end of the poem, Hayes repeats his motto, but adds on that if one “mistakes what it looks like for what it is (28-29)” (which actually switches its phrasing; he opens this line with “Like I was saying,” as though he was interrupted), one risks ending up like Othello, the tragic Shakespearian figure who is tormented by both Iago and himself. Othello, I suppose, lied about who he was (or was lied about), and eventually realized that the lie was true after wrongful deeds (and killed himself), answering the question Hayes asks in lines 31-32. The last five lines of the poem are the most important, I think. Here, Hayes tells “Brother Bastard” that he is blind to his power, and that he will suffice without seeing it, since no one will acknowledge him anyway. This last portion demonstrates that people sometimes fail to recognize their own significance, and that there will always be those who will leave them ignorant of their importance. Some would rather not see them (or anyone like them) acknowledge this self worth, as it may bring an end to their supremacy. We human beings are constantly searching for someone to lead us, whilst we neglect to recognize that first and foremost, we rule ourselves. I think this segment brings closure to the poem; although our view of the world may be obscured, we must not willfully blind ourselves, nor let others shroud our perspectives.
4 Comments
Eng
11/4/2016 05:52:12 am
This is a great poem that is addressing misconceptions and beliefs. Do we like to acknowledge those who are different (the garbagemen)? The Othello reference is wonderful, as Othello mistakenly believed that his wife was having an affair, when, in fact, she was more in love with her husband than ever. His death, certainly tragic as all suicides are, was more poignant after he murdered others for the false deception. What warning might Hayes be offering his readers in this poem?
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Hello, Mrs. Eng!
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DJ from WV
11/4/2016 07:33:53 am
I enjoyed your analysis on this poem! You have a very strong vocabulary, which is something that is rare these days. I liked how you used textual evidence to backup everything you said about your poem. You put effort in this! Great Job! -DJ
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Ashley G. from WV
11/6/2016 12:56:05 pm
Hi, I am also Ashley G., but from WV. I enjoyed your analysis. My favorite part was the author's use of the popular motto. It really gave rise to the poem's meaning. You definitely caught it perfectly and flawlessly analyzed it.
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