response art

(Kimberly)Let Them Not Say

Jane Hirshfield

2014

Let them not say: we did not see it

We saw.

Let them not say: we did not hear it

We heard.

Let them not say: they did not taste it

We ate, we trembled

Let them not say: it was not spoken, not written

We spoke,

witnessed with voices and hands.

Let them not say: they did nothing

We did not-enough.

Let them say, as they must say something

A kerosene beauty.

It burned.

Let them say we warmed ourselves by it,

read by its light, praised,

and it burned.

Part 1

Jane Hirshfield was born in New York City on February 24, 1953. She attended Princeton University and obtained her Bachelor's degree. She is a poet, translator, and editor. She has wrote several books of essays and poems. She was also a poet at writing seminars at Stanford University. Jane was all about the environment and how much of it has changed since she was young.

The poem is based on present tense. The poet didn't want to be focused on what if but what actually happened. 

There is no rhyme to the poem but a little bit of rhythm due to the repetition of some words. The poem is a metaphor about environmental grief and what is going on in the world. It came out on the day of Trump's inauguration. You can hear the consonance in the poem with the phrase "Let them say". It is a symbol of promise for our future and what is yet to come.

Part 2

The phrase that stood out to me is Let them not Say because everyone always has their own opinion so before you begin to even try to say something that I did or did not do, know your facts.

Know thyself

Before you speak

know your facts

Every tongue has a strong effect

It could do no harm or it can become harmful

So know before you speak

When I read Jane's Let Them Not Say poem, it reminds me of how people are always judging each other whether they realize it or not. Even though the poem is about the environment, I look at it as a message that needs to be heard. Don't let people speak what they do not know or understand unless they are willing to learn from it. I understand the concept of freedom of speech but they are limits to that concept believe it or not.

References:

(2020) Datebook. Zack, J. Jane Hirshfield's political poetry is going viral. She wishes it wouldn't. from  https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/books/jane-hirshfields-political-poetry-is-going-viral-she-wishes-it-wouldnt (Links to an external site.)

http://superscholar.org/9-modern-and-contemporary-poets-everyone-can-and-should-read/ (Links to an external site.)

Sporre, Dennis J. Perceiving The Arts An Introduction to the Humanities Eleventh Edition. Upper Saddle River. Pearson. 2015.