I don't understand this poem, but I need to write an essay on it. I'm not asking for anyone to write me an essay or anything, but just to help me understand the poem better. My teacher told me that it's about Japanese Americans during WWII who were asked to sign papers to see if they were loyal to America. PLEASE HELP ME ANALYZE AND INTERPRET THIS POEM, AS WELL AS THE FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE USED IN THE POEM!!!
THE QUESTION OF LOYALTY by Mitsuye Yamada
I me tthe deadline
for alien registration
once before
was numbered fingerprinted
and ordered not to travel without permit.
But alien stil they said I must
forswear allegiance to the emperor.
for me that was easy
I didn't even know him
but my mother who did cried out
If I sign this
What will I be?
I am doubly loyal
To my own people. How can double mean nothing?
I wish no one to lose this war.
Everyone does.
I was poor
at math.
I signed
my only ticket out.
1 comment… read it below or add one
Phrase:
I met the deadline
for alien registration
once before
was numbered fingerprinted
and ordered not to travel without permit.
What it means: The Japanese in America were forced to sign papers, and according to this, register themselves in America. This was to make sure there were no Japanese spies in America.
Phrase:
But alien still they said I must
forswear allegiance to the emperor.
for me that was easy
I didn't even know him
What it means: The Americans however did not trust the Japanese citizens, so they put them into camps where they were kept for the duration of the war.
Phrase:
but my mother who did cried out
If I sign this
What will I be?
What it means: Imagine you were a Japanese American; you probably wouldn't want to sign a form that said you were loyal to only America, and not Japan right? Japan was your motherland after all. So this man's mother is asking him, if he signs this, what will become of him? He wouldn't be loyal to his roots, to where he came from.
Phrase:
I am doubly loyal
To my own people. How can double mean nothing?
I wish no one to lose this war.
Everyone does.
What it means: The man has loyalty to his motherland and his home. America his is home, but Japan harbored his life. Japan is where he came from, why he is who he is. But being loyal to two warring sides means nothing, because in the end, you can't fight on both sides. He doesn't want anyone to lose the war (though he probably wishes it wasn't being fought).
Phrase:
I was poor
at math.
I signed
my only ticket out.
What it means: I believe when he says he is poor at math he is referencing the line "How can double mean nothing?" He is saying he can't figure it out, so he just signs the contract with the American government. He views it as his only way out.