Hamill is not shy to repeatedly state “We cannot bear very much reality.” This is a very profound statement and is the underlying message in his text. People have difficulty showing emotions and we have been taught to repress our feelings. This reaction to the unpleasant experiences in life desensitizes us and in a way, makes us guilty. This lack of emotional awareness, is keeping humans silent and from taking accountability in life. The violence portrayed by Sam Hamill is painfully true. Entering this poem, I was encouraged to have sympathy and consideration for both the abuser and their victim. One cannot help but oblige as the irony in this situation is very apparent. We as humans are programmed by our environment. If no one speaks up to the negative acts of others, we are as guilty as the one committing such crimes. A child mimics what they have been shown, hence the example of the abused child becoming a batterer analogy.
Much like Hamill’s poem, Rite of Passage emphasizes the loss of innocence. The mother describing six and seven year old boys as short men/generals at a simple Birthday party shows how children’s behavior often mirrors adults. She is witnessing her sons shift in the world with a somewhat sarcastic lightheartedness. The ironic truth that we are by products of our environment, leads to compassionate nature both the mother and Hamill reflect in these writings.
Bearing witness to one’s reality gives an individual the opportunity to move beyond the self. An author voicing these observations through poetry provides a freedom to themselves and to their readers. This freedom comes with the understanding that we must be accountable for our words and actions. It is also the acceptance of the impact we have on children, on ourselves, and on our society.
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Photo taken from http://grizzlymedia.wordpress.com/2008/04/07/get-your-poetry-here/
