Longing for the Past

Many of us long for a particular event or childhood experience that has been engraved into our memories. All four of the poets for today share that common ground. Although their individual memories differ, they all wish to relive the recalling of their pasts.

The poem “Bored” by Margaret Atwood uses a slow paced tone and choppy structuring to help bring relevance to the title. The reader can easily be put too sleep with the dreary details that she recalls. Furthermore, throughout the poem Atwood seems to remember the dull times she and her father shared on their boat. Although at the time of her childhood “[She] could hardly wait to get the hell out of there…,” the end of the poem clearly shows that the “bored” times were actually times of joy. With her knowledge as an adult, she realizes “[She] wouldn’t be bored” because “[she] would know too much”.

A reader’s first impression of “My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke may be one of outrage and alarm. Roethke’s use of strong vocabulary such as beat and battered may give a reader the wrong impression of the relationship between he and his father. However, after closer inspection one will come to the conclusion that Roethke is aptly wistful of the times he and his father would waltz around the house. When reading the poem aloud, one can tell that the rhythm in which Roethke implements is one of joy. The rhythm is actually fluid and harmonious which contradicts a poem of violence and abuse.

“Fern Hill” by Dylan Thomas also implements the longing of childhood as the theme. The outdoors is clearly where Thomas was able to be free and happy. He speaks fondly of his “…high house-hay…” and his cheerfulness in “…sky-blue trades”. The form of the poem helps to convey the carefree message of the speaker because of its senseless structuring. Furthermore, the voice of the speaker and his word choice bring about a happy remembrance of his childhood.

Finally, “The Video” by Fleur Adcock uses a witty humor and voice to bring about a happy and childish mood. She uses the likely jealousy of a child with a new sibling to help add a funny tone to the poem. When she “…made her [sister] go back in,” the reader can laugh and likely relate to the juvenile behavior.

All four of the poems share the fond memories of childhood as their contexts. Although the speakers’ feelings may have differed at the time of their childhood, their memories as adults create nostalgia for the individuals’ past. Also the tones rhythms of the poems help to convey the mood and feeling the speaker is trying to evoke.