Answer: Referencing artistic elements in a poem or a story is a choice authors make to educate their audiences about artistic expression. Yusef Komunyakaa uses imagery and color to educate his reader through artistic elements.
Komunyakaa uses imagery in his poem like “ I see the trap’s white flash” to connect the reader to a time of war and emotional pain. He also uses color to convey a sense of reality while creating a feeling of a dream like state at the same time. For example, “ brushstrokes flash, a red bird’s wings cutting across my stare.”
Step-by-step explanation:This small moment at the memorial is a glimpse at a larger picture. Komunyakaa speaks about this one day but this one day represents such a horrific and traumatic situation, one that has left scars on many people.