
Timothy Donnelly Reads Yusef Komunyakaa
The New Yorker: Poetry
Embracing the Failure of Language
The use of language that may be seen as a failure provides an extraordinary insight into what it might be like to be a dog. The phrase 'to the crest of my ability' exemplifies this wonderful failure by deviating from the expected 'to the best of my ability,' encapsulating the idea of dogs overcoming a bump. The speaker reflects on concerns regarding the phrase possibly being perceived as a pun, pondering the appropriateness of wordplay. Ultimately, the acceptance and appreciation of language's failures are highlighted, with an acknowledgment of the relief in receiving validation for such linguistic choices.
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