Identity: noun, who a person is, or the qualities of a person or group that make them different from others; the reputation, characteristics, etc. of a person or organization that makes the public think about them in a particular way
We choose different ways to represent who we are on a daily basis--whether that be through the clothes we wear, the way we walk, the avatar we create for a game, the profile pic we choose for social media, or even what we pick as our favorite color.
With all the various ways to present ourselves, to create and mold our own identities, people still perceive us in their own ways. There's also a lot of pressure behind the ability and freedom of choosing an identity and/or living up to one already chosen for you.
Self-portrait poems are excellent challenges for writers to gain a better understanding of how they perceive themselves/their writing versus how their readers may perceive them. This type of poem forces you to understand the motivations behind your identity or identities--where they stem from and the cause/effect of them. It also forces you to comprehend someone else's point of view, so you may better present yourself in a way they can understand and fully experience.
Personally, I see these poems as opportunities for a sort of character development for my speaker. When reading a collection, I crave these self-portrait poems so I can fully place myself as a reader in the speaker's shoes. In other words, mastering this poem will not only provide more writing opportunities/ideas, it will also allow both you (the writer) and your reader to understand and share the speaker's experience.
I think this is incredibly important especially in today's world where unbridled prejudices and bigotries purely stem from a lack of education and empathy. Self-portrait poems allow you a space to directly present yourself, your culture, your values, your passions, your fears, your history, your present, and more which altogether are impactful, inspiring, and accessible in poetic form.
Getting Started
Consider the following poems by Rita Dove and Edward Hirsch:
Edward Hirsch
I lived between my heart and my head, like a married couple who can't get along. I lived between my left arm, which is swift and sinister, and my right, which is righteous. I lived between a laugh and a scowl, and voted against myself, a two-party system. My left leg dawdled or danced along, my right cleaved to the straight and narrow. My left shoulder was like a stripper on vacation, my right stood upright as a Roman soldier. Let's just say that my left side was the organ donor and leave my private parts alone, but as for my eyes, which are two shades of brown, well, Dionysus, meet Apollo. Look at Eve raising her left eyebrow while Adam puts his right foot down. No one expected it to survive, but divorce seemed out of the question. I suppose my left hand and my right hand will be clasped over my chest in the coffin and I'll be reconciled at last, I'll be whole again.
Rita Dove
I’m dangerous; there’s little left inside this body — that hasn’t wanted not to subtract from the world. I can divide a man into men. This isn’t a warning or confession. Call me what you’d like; in my own mind I’m a mirror. I see everything except myself. This way I can’t lose: even when broken, a polished surface reflects whatever looks in.
Hirsch assembles several allusions to create his concept of self; there is conflict, religion, myth, loss, and death all braided together to represent his speaker.
Dove is much more direct and poignant; there's a strong voice here revealing an independent personality. She also reveals a sort of mask as though despite what the speaker has experienced, the world will not see it. Reflecting "whatever looks in" may suggest a sort of emotional assimilation.
There's lots to unpack from both these works, but I've chosen them to convey the freedom in form and style you have when constructing this type of poem.
Brainstorm Your Identities
We all have more than one identity. Who you are with your teammates may be different from who you are with your grandparents; who you were when you were 15 may be different than who you are now, and that's okay.
For this exercise, consider which identity means the most to you, which one you have held to the longest. What part of yourself is the most difficult to explain to an outsider? What is the most unique and why? What are you most proud of or most ashamed of?
Refine that identity to be as specific as possible. Dove is not just "dangerous" she can "divide a man into men" and is "a mirror" Write down specific/unique words associated with your chosen identity. Consider strong adjectives and dynamic verbs.
Shape Your Identity Into a Scene
Notice how Hirsch presents individual parts of a body as separate entities of the self, things he's "lived between" and connects each of them with either an image or allusion that further speaks to the portrayed self.
Dove speaks directly to the speaker and provides evidence of her danger, specific images to convey her concept of the self.
There's lots of freedom here--you can present your 'self' as a location, a painting, a song, etc. as long as it connects to the identity you chose to write about.
Give it an Oomph
As an identity poem, it should function to inform or inspire a reader that doesn't share your identity. It should cause them to think twice, to walk a mile in your shoes and come out with perspective, to care about your speaker and be shaped by the experience.
My draft of this poem focused on my hometown. Very few people I've met really understand the culture and familial aspect of a small town, the quirky rituals, the adventures, the conflicts, the joys, the gossip, the secrets.
Consider these poems for further inspiration:
Happy Writing!