Thursday, December 5, 2013

Review of "Flux" by Afaa Michael Weaver

"Flux" by Afaa Michael Weaver was offered by Poets.org's Poem-A-Day on December 5, 2013.  A link to the poem, including the poet's notes, may be found here:

http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/23790

Afaa Michael Weaver (born Michael S. Weaver in 1951) (pictured) graduated from public high school at the age of sixteen.  He attended the University of Maryland for two years and then left college in favor of doing factory work for the following fifteen years.  His first book of poetry, Water Song,  was published in 1985 to wide acclaim.  Shortly thereafter, he was accepted into Brown University's graduate writing program on a full fellowship and was able to leave his blue collar job in favor of an academic career.  He currently teaches at Simmons College in Boston.  A detailed biography may be found here:

http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/170?utm_source=PAD%3A+Flux+by+Afaa+M.+Weaver&utm_campaign=poemaday_120513&utm_medium=email

The "I" in the poem represents each individual of all of humanity.  The first nine lines of this eighteen-line poem describe the physical body metaphorically.  The body itself is "a city of bones."  The nerves are "electric chords."

The second half of the poem waxes metaphysical.  Death happens suddenly.  The fire of the eyes is extinguished "in an instant."  But then, the spirit, released from its prison of the body, becomes "perfect," and there is no need to be concerned about the ultimate fate of the body.

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