In “Mercy, Mercy, Me” John Murillo again adopts a reflective, somber attitude about his past or what appears to be so. He is talking about a city in which he once lived in that has undergone much change. He reflects on “a city that’s never loved you might be overstating things a bit.” Murillo wrote this poem in 2017, a few days before the Rodney King riots, looking back at Los Angeles and the many childhood landmarks that had been burned in the riots. He furthers his point of him being upset with change with a description of “there was once a walk-up where now sits a lot, vacant, and rats in deep grass hide themselves from the day.”
The poem is concise, yet delivers a powerful message.of the corruption of his childhood memories and change brought about in a familiar place in a dramatic fashion.
The contrasts in this poem are incredible. And his talk of the memories of things you've never experienced but still remember...
ReplyDeleteI like how you said it delivers a powerful message even though it is concise. I write poems in my notes, which are pretty short, but I think that is how I get my message to be more distinct and strong.
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