Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Janice Mirikitani’s "We, the Dangerous" is a bold and defiant poem that confronts the historical and systemic oppression faced by marginalized communities, particularly Asian Americans, and asserts their resilience, strength, and refusal to be broken. Through vivid imagery, historical references, and a powerful refrain, the poem critiques colonialism, racism, and sexism while celebrating the enduring spirit of those who have survived and resisted these forces.

The poem begins with a triple vow: “I swore it would not devour me / I swore it would not humble me / I swore it would not break me.” This opening immediately establishes the speaker’s determination and defiance in the face of adversity. The repetition underscores the magnitude of the threats faced and the unyielding resolve to resist them. This vow sets the tone for the poem, framing it as both a personal declaration and a collective testament to resilience.

Mirikitani moves seamlessly from the personal to the collective, weaving historical and cultural experiences into the fabric of the poem. The references to “barbed wire and barracks” evoke the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, while the mention of “closer to the earth” and “squat, short thighed” reflects the racialized stereotypes imposed on Asian bodies. These lines highlight the dehumanization and labor exploitation forced upon these communities, reducing them to physicality and servitude. The image of children being “spawn of barbed wire and barracks” underscores the generational impact of these injustices, suggesting that trauma and oppression are inherited but not unchallenged.

The poem’s structure mirrors its themes of resistance and reclamation. Each stanza introduces a command or expectation imposed by the oppressors—cultivating gardens, preparing fish, massaging backs—followed by a subversive response. The repetition of “We,” paired with descriptions of strength and connection to nature, reclaims the identity and agency stripped away by those in power. The speaker acknowledges the imposed roles of servitude, exoticization, and exploitation, but reframes them as sources of resilience and unity: “We, akin to the jungle, plotting with the snake” and “We, who awake in the river / Ocean’s child / Whale eater.”

Mirikitani draws on powerful natural imagery to assert a connection to the earth, the ocean, and the jungle, reclaiming these spaces as sites of strength and resistance rather than subjugation. The metaphors of the snake, the whale, and the moon evoke an ancestral and primal power, positioning the oppressed as both survivors and inheritors of vast, untamed forces. The imagery of “dead fish bloating our harbors” and “bodies filling pockmarked fields” serves as a stark reminder of the physical and cultural devastation wrought by war and exploitation, yet these losses are framed as part of a larger narrative of survival and resistance.

Historical references to “Hiroshima,” “Vietnam,” and “Tule Lake” situate the poem within specific contexts of violence and oppression. Hiroshima and Vietnam evoke the devastation of war and the targeting of Asian bodies and lands, while Tule Lake represents the internment of Japanese Americans. These sites of trauma are invoked not merely as sites of victimization but as testaments to resilience and survival. The refrain—“And yet we were not devoured. / And yet we were not humbled. / And yet we are not broken”—asserts the enduring strength of these communities in the face of systemic attempts to erase, exploit, or destroy them.

The poem’s tone is both confrontational and celebratory. Mirikitani does not shy away from depicting the brutal realities of oppression, but she balances this with a fierce affirmation of identity and resistance. The phrase “We, the dangerous” reclaims the label of danger, transforming it from a term of vilification to one of empowerment. By embracing the perceived threat they pose to systems of power, the speaker and the collective assert their agency and refuse to be diminished.

Mirikitani’s language is precise and evocative, blending tactile, natural imagery with historical and cultural specificity. The juxtaposition of imposed roles with reclaimed identity creates a dynamic tension that drives the poem forward, culminating in its triumphant conclusion. The repetition of “We” reinforces the collective nature of the struggle and the shared strength of those who resist.

“We, the Dangerous” is a powerful testament to the resilience of marginalized communities and a searing critique of the systems that seek to oppress them. Through its vivid imagery, historical resonance, and defiant tone, the poem asserts the unbreakable spirit of those who endure and resist. Mirikitani’s work is both a call to remember the past and a celebration of the strength that emerges from survival and solidarity. It stands as a powerful reminder that, despite all attempts to subjugate and silence, the human spirit remains indomitable.

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