Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

June Jordan's poem "One Minus One Minus One" delves into the complex and often painful dynamics of familial relationships, particularly the conflicting roles of parents in shaping their child's identity and existence. Through stark and poignant language, the poem navigates themes of control, sacrifice, and the quest for autonomy.

The poem opens with a declaration that this exploration is only the beginning—"a first map of territory"—indicating that the themes and emotions encapsulated here will be recurring subjects in Jordan's work. The repetition of this exploration "again and again" underscores the enduring impact of these familial dynamics on the speaker's life and creative expression.

The first stanza introduces the mother, whose actions are described as "murdering" the speaker to carve out a life of her own. This metaphorical language suggests a profound sense of betrayal and abandonment. The use of the word "murdering" evokes a visceral image of destruction, highlighting the depth of the mother's actions on the speaker's sense of self. The line "to have a life of her own" implies that the mother’s pursuit of personal freedom or fulfillment comes at the expense of the speaker’s well-being and identity.

The speaker's struggle to articulate these feelings is captured in the line "What would I say / (if I could speak about it?)." The parenthetical phrase suggests an internal conflict, a difficulty in expressing the profound pain and confusion stemming from the mother’s actions. It indicates a silence or suppression of these emotions, possibly due to their overwhelming nature or the fear of confronting such a harsh reality.

The second stanza shifts focus to the father, who is depicted as raising the speaker "to be a life that he / owns." This description conveys a sense of possession and control, suggesting that the father’s influence is rooted in dominance rather than nurturing. The idea of being "owned" implies a loss of agency and autonomy, reinforcing the speaker's feeling of being trapped or constrained by the father's expectations and desires.

The repeated question "What can I say / (in this loneliness)" further emphasizes the speaker's isolation and struggle for self-expression. The use of parentheses again signifies an inner turmoil, a hesitancy or inability to fully voice the depth of this emotional landscape. The loneliness mentioned here is not just a physical solitude but an existential one, stemming from the conflicting forces of parental influence and the resultant fragmented sense of self.

The title "One Minus One Minus One" encapsulates the theme of loss and subtraction, where the speaker feels diminished by the actions of both parents. Each subtraction represents a layer of identity and autonomy stripped away, leaving the speaker in a state of existential deficit. This mathematical metaphor poignantly illustrates the cumulative effect of these familial dynamics, where the speaker is left grappling with what remains of their identity after such profound erosions.

In "One Minus One Minus One," June Jordan masterfully captures the intricate and often painful intersections of family, identity, and autonomy. Through her evocative language and poignant imagery, she gives voice to the silenced and explores the enduring impact of these formative relationships on the individual psyche. The poem stands as a powerful testament to the resilience and complexity of navigating one's sense of self amid the constraints and expectations imposed by those closest to us.

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