Komunyaaka Reads to Packed House at Beers
Joseph Bolen
Issue date: 4/10/03 Section: News
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Professor Madigan began the event with a brief introduction given. The English professor spoke about his admiration for Yusef and set the tone for the powerful Komunyaaka, who read his poems with a stern elegance and powerful delivery.
"I loved his poems. They flowed so naturally. His word choice was phenomenal and he even managed to add flair and intelligence to poems entitled "Ode to a Maggot" and "Slam, Dunk, Block," even giving intensity and metaphorical meaning to the game of basketball," said English major Stephanie Guiler. The concluding line of "Ode to a Maggot" was "no one gets to heaven without going through you first."
Laughter permeated the room and set the mood for the enjoyable, relaxing experience. The crowd had already been buzzing in anticipation of Yusef, and each poem met an ovation of approval and acceptance. Many of the onlookers had to sit on the floor as others were also forced to stand. Young college faces were the majority; however, notable English professors such as Madigan, Dr. Walker and Dr. Meyers were also on hand.
Bookstore manager Kimberly Taylor quips, "He has an amazing following. I've talked to people in the community and they have followed him (Komunyaaka) around the area and have seen him three, four, and sometimes even five times. His poetry is excellent and his two books are always available at the bookstore and I would recommend them to anyone." (Pleasure Dome sells for $37.10 and Talk Dirty to The Gods is selling for $13.80.)
He writes his poetry in certain thematic units, like his latest work entitled "Kindness," and according to Yusef, the poem may spawn "the writing of a whole series about kindness, hope, and caring." His voice is deep and commanding; his demeanor speaks of peace and tranquility.
The climax of the nineteen poems read by Komunyaaka was one about the war in Vietnam. The conclusion of "Camouflaging the Chimera" was indicative of the feelings and mixed emotions common with veterans of that particular war. "It took me fourteen years to finally write about my experiences in Vietnam," says the native of Bogalusa, Louisiana, where he was born in 1947. It was both disturbing and electrifying, and effectively captured the war "as the world evolved in each man's eyelid."