Episode #121 The Word - Zaffar Kunial

Close Talking: A Poetry Podcast

Connor and Jack discuss Zaffar Kunial's elegant sonnet, "The Word." They marvel at the poem's seemingly effortless meditation on being between two cultures—particularly in a postcolonial context—and how it evokes so much through one simple word: "the." Check out Kunial's latest collection, here: https://www.faber.co.uk/9780571337651-us.html. You can hear Kunial read "The Word", here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P87bOpCzn6o The Word By: Zaffar Kunial I couldn’t tell you now what possessed me to shut summer out and stay in my room. Or at least attempt to. In bed mostly. It’s my dad, standing in the door frame not entering – but pausing to shape advice that keeps coming back. “Whatever is matter, must enjoy the life.” He pronounced this twice. And me, I heard wrongness in putting a the before life. In two minds. Ashamed. Aware. That I knew better, though was stuck inside while the sun was out. That I’m native here. In a halfway house. Like that sticking word. That definite article, half right, half wrong, still present between enjoy and life. Find us at our website: www.closetalking.com/ Find us on Facebook at: facebook.com/closetalking Find us on Twitter at: twitter.com/closetalking Find us on Instagram: @closetalkingpoetry You can always send us an e-mail with thoughts on this or any of our previous podcasts, as well as suggestions for future shows, at [e-mail].