Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"King: April 4, 1968" by Gerald William Barrax is a poignant reflection on the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., intertwined with the poet's personal journey and moral contemplation. Through vivid imagery and a deeply introspective narrative, Barrax explores themes of violence, nonviolence, and the complex emotions stirred by acts of injustice and the struggle for civil rights.

The poem opens with a childhood memory set in Alabama, evoking the brutality of animal slaughter as a metaphor for the violence permeating the poet's early life. The "squeals of the pigs dying" and their "opened throats" symbolize the pervasive cruelty and racial violence in the South. This imagery sets the stage for the poet's lifelong aversion to violence and his struggle to reconcile this aversion with the harsh realities of the world.

Barrax's admission, "I wasn’t given that kind of stomach," reveals a natural empathy and sensitivity, characteristics that conflict with the societal expectations of masculinity and strength. His recounting of killing a robin with a BB gun at age 14 serves as a critical moment in his moral development; the act of violence and the immediate regret highlight his inherent discomfort with causing harm, further distancing him from the violence that surrounds him.

The poet's reflection on his inability to participate in wars, paired with his realization that "nonviolence kills you anyway," references the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., a champion of nonviolent protest. This realization prompts a complex emotional response: a wish to be capable of violence as a means of defense or retribution. The repetition of "I wished I could do it I wished I could" underscores the internal conflict between the poet's moral convictions and the desire to fight back against injustice.

Barrax's use of the phrase "righton righton rightON" signifies a declaration of solidarity with those who resist oppression, even as he acknowledges his personal limitations. The juxtaposition of his heart's support with his "stomach still in Alabama pig pens" metaphorically illustrates the ongoing struggle between intellectual commitment to the cause and visceral aversion to violence.

Ultimately, "King: April 4, 1968" is a meditation on identity, morality, and the cost of commitment to nonviolence in the face of systemic racism and violence. Barrax's introspective journey, from his childhood in Alabama to the moment of King's assassination, reflects a broader narrative of the African American experience during the Civil Rights Movement. The poem confronts the reader with the paradox of wishing for the capacity to commit violence as a form of resistance while grappling with the inherent value of nonviolence as espoused by Martin Luther King Jr.

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