The Last Day of Betty Nkomo

This 2005 piece distinguishes itself from most of YHCHI's earlier work in two ways: it is brief (about 2 minutes long) and it uses an Okinawan folk song (perhaps a version of "Asadoya Yunta") rather than jazz. This compelling story is perfectly synchronized to the music, powerfully narrating the thought process of a woman who seems to by dying on the floor, trying to get up, but unable to. The chords played on the sanshin set a regular tempo for the song and poem, but its heartbeat-like rhythm slows down into an abrupt silence at the end of the song, marking Betty Nkomos' death.

For a more detailed reading of this poem, read pgs. 157-161 of Giovanna Di Rosario's dissertation, "Electronic Poetry: Understanding Poetry in the Digital Environment."

(Source: Leonardo Flores, I ♥ E-Poetry)

Electronic Literature Directory entry:

Electronic Literature Directory entry

I ♥ E-Poetry entry:

I ♥ E-Poetry entry

Teaching Resource that references this work:

Resource	Author	Teaching Resource Type	Year
Electronic Literature (DIKULT 203, Fall 2012)	Leonardo L. Flores	Syllabus	2012

Critical writing that references this work:

Title	Author	Year
Born Digital: Writing Poetry in the Age of New Media	Maria Engberg	2007
Electronic Poetry: Understanding Poetry in the Digital Environment	Giovanna Di Rosario	2011
I Love E-Poetry	Leonardo L. Flores	2011
Poetic Machines: an investigation into the impact of the characteristics of the digital apparatus on poetic expression	Jeneen Naji	2012
text, time, typography		2003

Screen shots:

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Record posted by:

Meri Alexandra Raita