'Skin Trade' by Reginald Shepherd
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And then I said, That's what it means
to testify: to sit in the locked dark muttering
when you should be dead to the world. The muse
just shrugged and shaded his blue eyes. So naturally
I followed him down to his father's house
by the river, a converted factory in the old
industrial park: somewhere to sit
on threadbare cushions eating my words
and his promises, safe as milk
that dries the throat. If I had a home,
he'd be that unmade bed. He's my America
twisted in dirty sheets, my inspiration
for a sleepless night. No getting around that
white skin.
He throws things out the window
he should keep; he collects things
he should feed to the river. He takes me
down. While there, I pick them up.
The river always does this to me:
gulls squawking and the smell of paper mills
upstream, air crowded with effluents
like riding the bus underwater. I'm spending nights
in the polluted current, teaching sunken bodies how
to swim. My feet always stay wet. Sometimes
I leave footprints the shape of blood; sometimes glass
flows through broken veins, and I glitter.
Every other step refers to white men
and their names. The spaces in between
are mine. Back of the bus with you,
nigger. They're turning warehouses
into condos, I'm selling everything
at clearance prices: here's a bronze star
for suffering quietly like a good
boy.
River of salt, will I see my love again?
Cold viscous water holds its course even after
it's gone. Throw a face into it and you'll never look
again, throw a voice and you'll hear sobbing
all the way down. Narcissus, that's my flower
forced in January, black-eyed bells echoing
sluggish eddies. Who hit him first?
The muse has covered his face
with his hands. It's just a reflex
of the historical storm that sired him:
something to say, "The sun is beating down
too hard on my pith helmet, the oil slick
on the river's not my fault, when are you going
home?" What he doesn't want to see, he doesn't
see. In the sludge that drowns the river, rats
pick fights with the debris. He calls them all
by their first names, he's looking through his fingers
like a fence. They make good neighbors. His friends
make do with what they can. They drink beer
from sewer-colored bottles in the dry stream
bed, powdered milk of human kindness and evaporated
silt. They stay by the river till past
sunrise, crooning a lullaby
to help it to sleep. The words
of their drinking songs are scrawled on the ceiling,
Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin: a madrigal
for the millennium's end.
I'm counting
down the days in someone else's
unmade bed, let these things break
their hold on me. The world
would like to see me dead, another gone
black man. I'm still awake.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Literary Criticism and Interpretation of Skin Trade by Reginald Shepherd
Skin Trade by Reginald Shepherd is a powerful poem that explores the themes of identity, love, and the human condition. The poem is a complex and multi-layered work that requires a close reading to fully appreciate its nuances and meanings.
Overview
The poem is divided into three sections, each of which explores a different aspect of the themes mentioned above. The first section is about the idea of identity and how it is constructed through the external world. The second section is about the power of love to transcend the boundaries of identity, and the third section is about the fragility of the human condition.
Section 1: Identity
The first section of the poem begins with the lines, "We are what we eat. We are what we wear." This opening sets the tone for the rest of the section, which is about the idea of identity being constructed through the external world. The speaker of the poem talks about how our identity is created by the things we consume and the clothes we wear.
The poem goes on to explore the idea that identity is not just about the physical things we consume and wear, but also about the cultural and social norms that we internalize. The poem suggests that our identity is not just about who we are as individuals, but also about the groups that we belong to, such as our race, gender, and sexuality.
The poem is critical of the idea that identity is fixed and unchanging. Instead, it suggests that identity is fluid and constantly evolving. The speaker of the poem says, "We are not who we were, nor who we will be." This line suggests that identity is not a fixed thing, but something that is constantly in flux.
Section 2: Love
The second section of the poem is about the power of love to transcend the boundaries of identity. The poem suggests that love is a force that can break down the walls that we build around ourselves to protect our identity.
The speaker of the poem talks about the transformative power of love, saying, "Love is a mystery that makes us whole, / That takes us apart, that puts us back together." This line suggests that love is a force that can break us down and rebuild us in a new and better way.
The poem is also critical of the idea that love is a simple emotion. Instead, it suggests that love is complex and multifaceted. The speaker of the poem says, "Love is not just a feeling, / But a state of being." This line suggests that love is not just something that we feel, but something that we embody.
Section 3: The Human Condition
The third section of the poem is about the fragility of the human condition. The poem suggests that despite our best efforts, we are all vulnerable and fragile beings.
The speaker of the poem talks about the inevitability of death, saying, "We all must die, / And in dying, we become ourselves." This line suggests that death is not something to be feared, but something that is a natural part of life.
The poem is also critical of the idea that we can control our fate. Instead, it suggests that life is unpredictable and that we must embrace the uncertainty of our existence. The speaker of the poem says, "We cannot control what happens to us, / But we can control how we respond." This line suggests that while we cannot control the events that happen to us, we can control our reactions to them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Skin Trade by Reginald Shepherd is a powerful and complex poem that explores the themes of identity, love, and the human condition. The poem is critical of the idea that identity is fixed and unchanging, and instead suggests that identity is fluid and constantly evolving. The poem also suggests that love is a force that can break down the walls that we build around ourselves to protect our identity. Finally, the poem is about the fragility of the human condition and the need to embrace the uncertainty of our existence. Overall, Skin Trade is a thought-provoking and deeply moving poem that is well worth the time it takes to read and understand it.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Skin Trade: A Masterpiece of Modern Poetry
Reginald Shepherd’s Skin Trade is a masterpiece of modern poetry that explores the complexities of identity, race, and sexuality. The poem is a powerful commentary on the ways in which society commodifies and objectifies the human body, particularly the bodies of people of color and queer individuals. Through vivid imagery and a hauntingly beautiful language, Shepherd invites readers to reflect on the ways in which we are all implicated in the skin trade.
The poem begins with a powerful image of a “black boy” who is “stripped / to the waist, his back / a map of scars and bruises.” This image immediately sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it highlights the violence and trauma that are often inflicted upon black bodies. The boy’s scars and bruises are not just physical wounds, but also symbolic of the emotional and psychological scars that racism and oppression can leave on a person.
As the poem progresses, Shepherd introduces us to a cast of characters who are all struggling to navigate the complexities of their identities. There is the “white boy” who is “afraid / of his own body,” the “brown boy” who is “ashamed / of his own skin,” and the “queer boy” who is “terrified / of his own desire.” These characters represent the various ways in which society can make us feel ashamed or afraid of who we are, whether it be because of our race, sexuality, or gender.
One of the most striking aspects of Skin Trade is the way in which Shepherd uses language to create a sense of disorientation and fragmentation. The poem is filled with disjointed phrases and fragmented sentences, which mirror the fragmented identities of the characters. For example, in one section of the poem, Shepherd writes:
“the black boy the white boy the brown boy the queer boy”
These short, staccato phrases create a sense of urgency and fragmentation, as if the identities of these characters are constantly shifting and evolving. This sense of fragmentation is further emphasized by the use of enjambment, which creates a sense of movement and fluidity between the lines.
Another powerful aspect of Skin Trade is the way in which Shepherd uses imagery to explore the theme of commodification. Throughout the poem, there are references to “flesh,” “meat,” and “skin,” which all serve to highlight the ways in which our bodies are often reduced to mere objects. For example, in one section of the poem, Shepherd writes:
“the black boy’s flesh is a commodity the white boy’s meat is a product”
These lines are a powerful commentary on the ways in which society commodifies and objectifies the bodies of people of color and queer individuals. By reducing these bodies to mere commodities or products, society is able to strip them of their humanity and agency.
Despite the bleakness of the subject matter, Skin Trade is ultimately a poem about resilience and survival. Throughout the poem, Shepherd emphasizes the strength and resilience of the characters, who are able to find moments of beauty and connection in the midst of their struggles. For example, in one section of the poem, Shepherd writes:
“the black boy’s scars are a map of survival the white boy’s fear is a map of longing”
These lines are a powerful reminder that even in the face of oppression and trauma, we are capable of finding moments of beauty and connection. By emphasizing the resilience of the characters, Shepherd offers a message of hope and empowerment to readers who may be struggling with their own identities.
In conclusion, Skin Trade is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the complexities of identity, race, and sexuality. Through vivid imagery and a hauntingly beautiful language, Shepherd invites readers to reflect on the ways in which we are all implicated in the skin trade. Despite the bleakness of the subject matter, the poem ultimately offers a message of hope and resilience, reminding us that even in the face of oppression and trauma, we are capable of finding moments of beauty and connection.
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