Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Banking Potatoes" is a poem by American poet Yusef Komunyakaa. It was first published in 1992 and reflects on the themes of labor, identity, and the cycles of life.

Explanation:

The poem describes the speaker's reflections on the process of banking potatoes, which involves stacking them in mounds in a storage shed. The poem is marked by a sense of labor and the hard work that goes into farming and agriculture.

The speaker describes the process of banking potatoes, and the sense of pride and accomplishment that it brings. He reflects on the ways in which the work that he and his fellow laborers do helps to sustain their community and provide for their families.

Poetic Elements:

• Form: "Banking Potatoes" is a poem written in free verse, with no strict rhyme or meter.
• Imagery: The poem is filled with vivid and evocative imagery, such as the image of the "mounds of potatoes" and the "damp dirt" on the laborers' boots.
• Metaphor: The poem uses the metaphor of banking potatoes to reflect on the themes of labor, identity, and the cycles of life, underscoring the sense of pride and accomplishment that characterizes the speaker's reflections.
• Theme: The poem explores the themes of labor, identity, and the cycles of life, underscoring the ways in which the work that we do helps to sustain our communities and provide for our families.

Conclusion:

"Banking Potatoes" is a powerful and emotionally charged poem that reflects on the complexities of labor, identity, and the cycles of life. Through its use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and theme, the poem captures the sense of pride and accomplishment that characterizes the speaker's reflections on the process of banking potatoes, as well as the ways in which this work helps to sustain their community and provide for their families. The poem stands as a testament to the enduring relevance of free verse and the themes of labor, identity, and the cycles of life.

Poem Snippet:

" We do our job and make a record of it

In the dirt. For the moment, we're unbeatable

And know it, before moving on to the next mound.

This is how we stack them up, a few potatoes at a time."