Tag: Poetry

A Tragic, Yet Beautiful, Truth 

Mended in light… it endures.

Prelude: The Soul Awakens

Truth is as absolute as it is subjective. The reality of our convictions may lead us toward certain choices, but even as we make those choices, we often know deep inside when we are lying to others… and to ourselves. The truth can hurt, and in our delusion, we may want to defy it. The truth can heal…if we accept it, if we accept the pain that comes with it to face the other side. And no matter what we may want, reality is what it is. “See things as they are and not as we want them to be,” to somewhat quote Renoir and Verso from Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. 

Most people, non-followers especially, who stumble upon this opinion post already know about the game, and as such, you all know that it is, in truth, a work of art. It is so painfully European at its core, or rather, very non-American. It is an echo of the past we so adore, a modern transformation of classical tragedy into the most popular medium of our era. The premise of the game is a very meta outlook on art. The protagonists, members of the Dessendre family, are Painters; their art is alive, it lives on its own, and in being alive, it carries the soul of those who painted it. 

In this sense, it truly resonated with me. I was moved by how, much like what I have written in the past, be it poems, prose, or ramblings, the art of Clair Obscur takes on an independence of its own, becoming more than what the Painter initially created. Often, I have felt that for us, the creators, poems are like living things too… just like a child is its own being, though it came from you. I have often gone back to read what I wrote years later and found myself surprised by my own writing. The words are the same, sure, but they feel… different. Are they truly mine? Did I write them? Those words feel like a world of their own, going on without me. And through them, maybe I will live on. It is in this same sense that Verso lives, though he died. A part of him lives on…literally…as the canvas he painted lives on.

Creation as Soulwork

And so, Painters and the enigmatic Writers from the world of Clair Obscur are the artists and poets of our world. I will not tire of repeating it: they pour pieces of their soul into their creations… and those creations live on. And in doing so, we are not forgotten. How long has it been since Da Vinci died? Since Corneille? And yet, we speak their names still. We recite their words, admire their art. They live on. 

Verso lives on inside the Painted World in more ways than one. There is hope that I, as a writer, will also live on within my art. The world depicted in Clair Obscur goes through extremes permitted by the liberalities of artistic vision. Aline recreating Verso as a version similar to the outside world is an exaggeration that may never come to pass. But it is meant to be symbolic of how our families, a mother, needs her loved ones to live on, to give herself hope. Aline used this method to deal with her grief, losing her son, and the resulting shattering of their family. What happened to cause this? It is still a mystery that may, perhaps, be solved in another story within that universe. 

If there is tension between Writers and Painters, I feel that there should instead be harmony. As a writer myself, I feel an echo of what the Painters have done. I suppose the Writers in that world hold the same power in a different form. Sometimes, the word or the art simply wants OUT. We express, if only in different ways. Our expression relieves us. We are free of the burden within us. In my own small pieces, I express what I feel, what I cannot say nor publish sometimes. In some way, the unsaid must be expressed, in whatever form. The art is made not for the entertainment of others, but for our own release. 

This is where Clair Obscur most triumphs. It is clear (to anyone who plays, and even to those who do not play but at least take time to listen to the 33-minute musical piece “Nos Vies en Lumière”) this was a glorious expression of multiple forms of art. It was not made to check investor boxes. It was not made to cater to the whims of executive management. It was simply put out into the world because they could…because they wanted to. And it is the better for it.

The Tragic Heart of the Game

If I had to boil it down to just three emotional moments…three moments that shattered me, even more than the grand finale…they would be: 

a. Gustave’s death 
b. The fight and farewell to Renoir 
c. The demise of the Paintress 

I’ll say it clearly: I saw the end coming. The grand finale didn’t surprise me. But these three did. 

The first, and most jarring, was the death of Gustave. Or rather, the annihilation of Gustave. I, like many, assumed he was our protagonist. JRPG convention, after all, tells us that the first character we control is the main character. Gustave had charm, depth, flaws, and strength. And then, he was utterly erased. It reminded me of the first time someone watched Game of Thrones without reading the books: Ned Stark’s execution. That moment when your brain realizes, “Oh. All bets are off.” That’s what happened with Gustave. That’s when I knew this wasn’t a “safe” story. 

It’s also when I knew this game was unmistakably European. 

Western, particularly American, storytelling tends to protect its protagonists. The hero overcomes, wins, defies fate. But in European tragedy, fate is rarely kind. The small man does not win. The child does not always grow up. Sometimes, the innocent fall, and that is that. It is bitter, it is human, and it is true. Tragedy is the most probable outcome. Even in the fantastical Painted World, this harsh principle holds. 

Renoir’s final battle and his painted echo’s fall hit me next. This man, the real one, wants to end his wife’s grief by destroying the Painted World. But the Renoir we fight is also Renoir…his essence, his longing to keep the family whole. His painted self becomes Aline’s protector, even as the real Renoir fights to save what’s left outside. This inner conflict, this mirroring of desire and pain, broke me. Renoir vs. Renoir. Love versus love. A tragic symmetry. 

Then there’s Aline, the Paintress. Her final moment is more than about loss, but it is about surrender. She built the Painted World to keep her son alive, to keep herself alive in his presence. She is fragile and fierce. She is terrible and tender. She has become the world’s soul, and in leaving it, she is undone. Her grief was the brush; her son, the canvas. And when she falls, a kind of silence settles. 

Americans might call all this drama. But no…this is Tragédie. Real, aching, brutal tragedy. And that’s what makes it beautiful.

Poetry and the Painted World

The Painters built with color. I build with words. But both are mirrors for what the heart cannot say aloud. 

Mirrors don’t show everything though… 

Sometimes they shimmer and blur. 

They hold back what would blind us if we saw it whole. 

We keep writing and painting, hoping to catch a glimpes of what hides behind the surface of reality, within us and without. 

“In Clair Obscur, the Painters pour their souls into color until the canvas itself becomes alive. I sometimes wonder if writers do the same with language. If every metaphor, every unfinished line, is a tiny echo of us trying to stay. 

Just like the Painters, what we write brings life to a world that we experience through our mind’s eye. In some cases, it can be so distinctive and precise that we all see the same feel the emotions with the same intensity. One great example is what Peter Jackson did with the Lord of The Rings. Tolkien did a great job, so much so that when I saw the movies, it was as if Jackson read my mind and brought to life all that I imagined in almost the same way I saw it. 

Personally, writing is an exhaust for my soul. I write my loneliness, my sadness, and even my secret love. Through writing as through painting or any form of art for that matter, we create a space that carries what cannot be said aloud. Love, anger, longing, despair, truth. 

This is where poetry comes in as a potent medium for expression of the unspeakable. A Haiku is a great example of this, expression condensed into a pure supernova of meaning like the densest stars. 

Like a dying star, the Haiku is weight and fire compressed into a single instant. Only the essence remains at it burns away everything unnecessary. An entire landscape, or whole paragraphs…in 17 syllables. 

Brevity can wound…. A few syllables, and suddenly you’re holding the universe in your palm. 

That is why I keep writing, here or there, and even in my mind where whole drafts drift into the ether once written. 

Every poem,  

every line,  

is a way to make peace with what refuses to be forgotten.

In Spite of Everything

We refuse to let silence or void have the last word. 

In every act of creation there is a quiet, yet fierce, defiance. The world turns, it does not need beauty or pain to keep turning. Still we never stop offering it, could our small gestures convince time to be kind? The answer does not matter. 

In spite of everything, we create. Creation helps us to survive ourselves. It will not or may not save us…but we will live on.  

Verso poured his time and soul into his canvas. Even after his unfortunate demise, he lives on within. His art persists, along with a piece of him. It never fades, and this is why his mother Aline could not let go. Like us, she cannot escape the darkness, hence she chose to reshape it by recreating her family inside of Verso’s world.  

We do not throw our pain away, our joys, they are part of us and we endure.  

Like in kintsugi we rebuild…where it sticks the pieces back together with golden seams, we mend what’s broken with light. 

We celebrate who we’ve become and we define ourselves through this expression in our art. 

In spite of everything, we shine on. Our light is fragile, but it is eternal. Made more beautiful by the darkness within which it blooms…

Epilogue: Forward Glance

The light, soft and patient, lives beside the dark. 

Because in the end, I don’t think we truly ever conquer grief. 
We learn to walk with it… 
to let it illuminate what remains. 

Nos vies en lumière… our lives in light… 
Less like an ending, 
more a gentle afterimage. 

We may vanish, 
but our echoes paint the sky. 

Every act of creation leaves a trace, faint yet enduring. 
The Painters poured their souls into color; 
we pour ours into words, melodies, gestures. 
When the hand that shaped them is gone, 
something still moves within the work … 
a shimmer, a breath. 

Perhaps that is how we live on: 
not in permanence, but in persistence, 
like light bending around absence. 

Aline knew this. 
She tried to hold her son inside the painted world, 
not out of madness but memory. 
In doing so, she built a monument 
to what love cannot surrender. 

There’s something sacred in that desperation… 
the refusal to let beauty die 
simply because the body that made it has fallen silent. 

Maybe all art is a form of reaching back… 
an open hand extended across the blur of time.

Mirrors, poems, and brushstrokes … 
they all reflect a little of the same light. 
Each tries to remember what reality forgets. 
We mend ourselves with color and sound, 
we rebuild with gold and grief. 

Even the cracks, once filled, catch the sun differently. 
That’s why the broken things gleam. 

The music of Clair Obscur lingers in my head… 
that final theme, Nos vies en lumière. 
It feels like forgiveness sung into being. 
Not triumph, not closure, 
but a quiet continuation. 

The kind of melody that hums beneath your breathing 
long after the speakers go silent. 

Maybe that’s what it means to live in light: 
to become resonance. 
To accept that our stories will fade, 
but the feeling they leave… 
the tenderness, the awe… 
will echo in someone else. 

We may vanish, yes… 
but our echoes paint the sky.

The Power of Imagery in Contemporary Poetry

Contents

I. Introduction.

II. Contemporary Poets Who Use Imagery Effectively.

III. The Impact of Imagery on Readers.

IV. Pushing the Boundaries of Imagery in Contemporary Poetry.

V. Conclusion.

VI. References.

I. Introduction

Definition of Imagery in Poetry

Poetry often relies on vivid descriptions and sensory details to create an emotional connection with the reader. This is where imagery comes in. Imagery uses descriptive language and sensory details to create mental images and evoke emotions in the reader (Britannica, 2020).

Importance of Imagery in Creating Emotional Resonance and Atmosphere

In poetry, imagery is crucial in creating emotional resonance and atmosphere (eNotes Editorial, n.d.). It helps to transport the reader into the world of the poem. Moreover, it allows the poet to communicate complex ideas and emotions directly and effectively (Poetry Archive, n.d.).

Here we will explore the power of imagery in contemporary poetry and examine how contemporary poets use this technique to create powerful and memorable poems. We will also examine some contemporary poets who are masters of imagery, including Warsan Shire, Claudia Rankine, and Nayyirah Waheed. We plan to discuss the impact their use of imagery has had on their readers.

In addition, we will explore how imagery can be used to create powerful emotional effects, such as inducing empathy, fostering a sense of belonging, or communicating complex ideas.

In terms of conclusion, we will summarize the key takeaways. Finally, some suggestions will be offered to readers who wish to further explore the power of imagery in contemporary poetry.

II. Contemporary Poets Who Use Imagery Effectively

A. Warsan Shire

Brief Biography

Warsan Shire is a Somali-British poet and writer known for her powerful and evocative use of imagery. Born in Kenya in 1988 and raised in London, Shire’s poetry explores themes of identity, displacement, and the experiences of refugees and immigrants (British Council, n.d.).

Examples of Poems that Showcase Her Use of Imagery

Some of Shire’s most well-known poems, such as “For Women Who Are Difficult to Love” and “Home”, are prime examples of her use of vivid imagery to create powerful emotional effects. In these poems, Shire uses vivid descriptions and sensory details to draw out a sense of longing and convey complex emotions and experiences (Poetry Foundation, n.d.).

B. Claudia Rankine

Brief Biography

Claudia Rankine is a Jamaican-American poet, playwright, and essayist known for her innovative use of imagery. Rankine’s poetry explores themes of race, identity, and social justice, and her writing has been praised for its ability to create a powerful emotional connection with the reader (Britannica, 2023).

Examples of Poems that Showcase Her Use of Imagery

Some of Rankine’s most well-known poems, such as “Citizen” (add link) and “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely”, are prime examples of her use of imagery to create powerful emotional effects. In these poems, Rankine uses vivid descriptions and sensory details to explore the experiences of marginalized communities and convey complex emotions and ideas (Burt & Mikics, 2015).

C. Nayyirah Waheed

Brief Biography

Nayyirah Waheed is a self-taught poet and author who has gained a large following for her powerful and suggestive use of imagery. Born in Louisiana in 1984, Waheed’s poetry explores themes of love, identity, and the human experience. Her writing has been praised for its ability to connect with readers on a deep emotional level (Cassius Life Staff, 2019). As a very private and reclusive person, finding any photos of her has proven difficult.

Examples of Poems that Showcase Her Use of Imagery

Some of Waheed’s most well-known poems, such as “Salt.” and “Nejma”, are prime examples of her use of vivid imagery to create powerful emotional effects (Sparkes & Sparkes, 2014). In these poems, Waheed uses sensory details and descriptive language to explore complex emotions and experiences and to create a sense of intimacy and connection with the reader.

III. The Impact of Imagery on Readers

One of the key ways that imagery can impact readers is by eliciting an emotional response and fostering a sense of belonging. Imagery is a literary device that uses descriptive language and figures of speech to create a sensory experience or a picture with words for the reader. By using vivid descriptions and sensory details, writers can create a connection with their readers that goes beyond the words on the page. This can help readers feel seen and understood and develop a sense of community and shared experiences.

Imagery can also be used to communicate complex ideas and emotions in a direct and impactful way. By using sensory details and descriptive language, writers can convey complex concepts and experiences in a way that is accessible and memorable. This makes imagery an especially powerful tool for writers exploring complex or sensitive topics.

To demonstrate the impact of imagery on readers, examining specific examples of poems that use imagery effectively can be helpful. For instance, Warsan Shire’s poem “For Women Who Are Difficult to Love” uses vivid imagery to create a sense of empathy and understanding for women who are often misunderstood or rejected by their partners. She writes the following:

“you are terrifying and strange and beautiful something not everyone knows how to love.”

These lines create an image of a woman who is unique, powerful, vulnerable, and lonely. They also show how the speaker acknowledges her own worth despite the lack of appreciation from others.

Another example is Claudia Rankine’s poem “Citizen”(Need to add link), which uses imagery to explore complex themes of race and identity in America. She mentions:

“You are in the dark, in the car, watching the black-tarred street being swallowed by speed; he tells you his dean is making him hire a person of color when there are so many great writers out there.”

These lines create an image of a tense situation where the speaker is trapped in a car with someone who expresses racist views. They also show how the speaker feels isolated and alienated by the casual racism she encounters.

A third example is Nayyirah Waheed’s poem “Salt.” which uses imagery to create a sense of intimacy and connection with the reader. She writes:

“I don’t pay attention to the world ending. It has ended for me many times and began again in the morning.”

These lines create an image of resilience and hope in adversity. They also show how the speaker shares her personal experiences with the reader as if they were confidants.

By examining these and other examples, we can see how imagery can have a powerful impact on readers by creating sensory experiences, conveying complex ideas, eliciting an emotional response, inspiring compassion, building a sense of community, expressing emotions, exploring themes, communicating messages, etc.

IV. Pushing the Boundaries of Imagery in Contemporary Poetry

Innovations in Imagery in Contemporary Poetry

Contemporary poets are pushing the boundaries of what is possible with imagery in poetry. They use sensory details and descriptive language in new and innovative ways to create powerful, memorable poems. For example, some poets use imaging, a mode of imagination that shows greater affinity to visual representation than verbal expression, to convey complex ideas and emotions. Others use figurative language, such as metaphors, similes, personification, and symbols, to conjure a sensory experience in the reader and foster a sense of belonging (MasterClass, 2019). Contemporary poets constantly find new and exciting ways to use this technique by exploring new techniques and styles with imagery.

The Impact of These Innovations on the Wider Literary Landscape

These innovations in imagery are profoundly impacting the broader literary landscape. By creating new and exciting ways to use sensory details and descriptive language, contemporary poets inspire other writers and open up new avenues for exploration and experimentation in poetry. For example, some writers use observation as a catalyst for their creative process, taking one image from their surroundings and writing about it in depth, allowing it to spark other thoughts, memories, images, stories, and emotional weight (Zalipour, 2011). Additionally, these innovations are helping to broaden the appeal of poetry, making it more accessible and relevant to a broader audience. Whether you are a seasoned poet or just a lover of the written word, these innovations in imagery are sure to inspire and delight you.

V. Conclusion

We examined how contemporary poets use imagery to create powerful emotional effects and communicate complex ideas. Some poets who are masters of this technique are Warsan Shire, Claudia Rankine, and Nayyirah Waheed. Their use of imagery has captivated and inspired many readers around the world. If you want to learn more about imagery in contemporary poetry, check out these books and collections of poems by some of the poets we have mentioned in this post:

Bless the Daughter Raised by a Voice in Her Head by Warsan Shire:

Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankine:

Salt by Nayyirah Waheed:

Or better yet, try writing your own poems using imagery and share them with us! How do you feel about imagery in contemporary poetry? Do you have any favorite examples or poets that you would like to share? Let us know in the comments below!

VI. References