Question

which lines from the poem \facing it\ best reflect the narrator’s struggle between his desire to maintain control and the strong emotions that he feels?
○ i’m stone. i’m flesh.
my clouded reflection eyes me
○ i turn that way—i’m inside
the vietnam veterans memorial
○ (partially visible text)
brushstrokes flash, a red bird’s
wings cutting across my stare.

Explanation:

To determine the lines reflecting the narrator's struggle between control and strong emotions, analyze each option:

• Option 1: "I'm stone. I'm flesh." presents a contrast. "Stone" implies emotional control (hard, unyielding), while "flesh" implies vulnerability and the presence of strong emotions (as flesh is associated with human, emotional being). "My clouded reflection eyes me" adds to the internal conflict as the reflection might represent the internal turmoil. This shows the struggle between wanting to be in control (stone) and feeling strong emotions (flesh).
• Option 2: "I turn that way—I'm inside the Vietnam Veterans Memorial" describes the narrator's physical location, not the internal struggle between control and emotions.
• Option 3 (partially visible but the relevant lines here "Brushstrokes flash, a red bird’s wings cutting across my stare" seem to focus on imagery of brushstrokes and a bird, not the control - emotion struggle.

Answer:

A. I'm stone. I'm flesh.
My clouded reflection eyes me