Midterm

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11th April, 2019
Poem to Explicate
The Face of Water
By Lonny Kaneko
The splash of water on your face
recalls the rush of water over
rock, slowly shaping each ridge
and curve. The roar of rain across
the porch clatters like loose rocks
collapsing from old cliffs too weak
to hold themselves together. Old
tales tell that water in the hands
of torturers reshapes the faces
of men too brave to cry. As I
hold a bucket of rain too green
and old to drink, the moon clears
the clouds, and I delight how its pale,
unworn face shimmers in my hands.
Poems taken from Coming Home From Camp and Other Poems
[Explication] The Face of Water
    The title itself conveys the primary theme of the poem that water has different faces given different situations. Revolving around this element of nature, the poet intriguingly wove the poem into layers each carrying in-depth meaning. The narrator holds a voice that tells of the tale of water and its influence over nature and human beings. The memory over several stances that water can do in its different form is elaborated through various stances.
    It is important to note the title that very well personifies water having a face. Water is but very much alive and on the run to do things bringing changes around. Its presence seems to make a difference everywhere. The face, which is a part of the body is mentioned twice in the body of the poem. Water is considered a living being for the second time in the fourth line, ‘The roar of rain…' this time on as a huge and even violent-like creature that comes crashing down from height (Lonny). The use of simile can be found in the same sentence as it compares the roar of rain over the porch...