Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

June Jordan’s "In Memoriam: Martin Luther King, Jr." is a searing and visceral tribute to the slain civil rights leader, capturing the profound grief, rage, and disillusionment that followed his assassination. The poem is structured in two parts, each delving into the chaotic and violent reality of America in the wake of King’s death, while also grappling with the larger implications of his loss.

In the first part, Jordan opens with stark and brutal imagery: "honey people murder mercy U.S.A. / the milkland turn to monsters teach / to kill to violate pull down destroy." These lines immediately convey a sense of betrayal and horror, as the country that King sought to heal and uplift is depicted as a monstrous entity. The repetition of violent verbs—"murder," "violate," "destroy"—emphasizes the relentless assault on both King’s legacy and the broader aspirations for freedom and justice.

The poem then shifts to a broader critique of America’s history and its cyclical nature of violence and oppression: "tomorrow yesterday rip rape / exacerbate despoil disfigure." Jordan’s use of language here is jarring and disjointed, reflecting the disarray and moral decay she perceives in the nation. The imagery of "rip rape" and "exacerbate despoil" suggests a continuous, destructive force that is ingrained in the fabric of American society.

Jordan intensifies her critique by personifying America as a predator: "crazy running threat the / deadly thrall / appall belief dispel." This personification captures the sense of a nation unmoored, driven by a deadly impulse that undermines any sense of security or belief in progress. The subsequent lines—"deform the normal rainy / riot sunshine shelter wreck / of darkness"—paint a picture of a country in which even the natural order is perverted and corrupted by systemic violence and oppression.

The climax of the first part comes with the invocation of "death by men by more / than you or I can / STOP." Here, Jordan acknowledges the overwhelming power of institutional violence, which seems beyond the control of any individual efforts to halt it. The capitalization of "STOP" underscores the desperation and urgency of her plea, even as it acknowledges its futility.

In the second part, Jordan shifts to a more introspective and mournful tone. She reflects on the state of those who "sleep who know a regulated place / or pulse or tide or changing sky / according to some universal / stage direction obvious / like shorewashed shells." These lines suggest a contrast between the obliviousness or complacency of some and the harsh reality faced by others who are acutely aware of the ongoing struggle and turmoil.

Jordan then describes a communal moment of grief: "we share an afternoon of mourning / in between no next predictable / except for wild reversal hearse rehearsal." This collective mourning is depicted as a ritual of "fright insanity and more / deplorable abortion / more and / more." The repetition of "more and / more" conveys a sense of relentless, accumulating grief and horror, suggesting that King’s assassination is not an isolated tragedy but part of a larger, ongoing pattern of violence and loss.

Overall, "In Memoriam: Martin Luther King, Jr." is a powerful and emotionally charged poem that captures the profound impact of King’s assassination on the American psyche. Through vivid and often brutal imagery, Jordan conveys a sense of betrayal, rage, and despair, while also mourning the loss of a leader who represented hope and the possibility of a better future. The poem stands as a testament to the enduring struggle for justice and the deep scars left by violence and oppression.

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