The father is also a strong man – “carries fully grown men down stairs in the middle of the night”. The daughter feels this is something, which should be boosted about, she is proud of her father. Words such as “hauled” and “pulled” in the second verse are also words, which help describe the father’s strength. “His back a solid Irish oak, bent, moved, straightened to each particular need” this is a metaphor and again refers to the father’s strength and ability to do what is required in his job-“ all in a days work”
“At home he bathed us on a Saturday night bent over the tub, sleeves rolled up arms covered in suds, told stories of him when he was a boy” this describes the relationship the father had with his family. Shows his family was as much an important part of his life along with his job and he always makes time to carry out his fatherly role even though these particular duties are often noticed as the mother’s role.
“Thousands of people who lent on him, shoulders that carried other people’s lives, as well as his own” this shows both sides to him, his strength and ability to help other as well as his caring and considerate side.
“He cannot bend to lace his shoe and I have learned to make the loop” this is called a rhyming couplet, shows how the father has left his mark on the daughter.
The other poem “Arranmore” starts by describing the collection of seashells, which initially gives the impression of a romantic setting for a couple taking a walk along the beach. In the next line the word “fractured” refers to the state the shells are in, which is a metaphor for the state in which the couples relationship is in- as if something had caused their relationship to drift apart. “There were few so perfect you could say. This would make a perfect setting for a ring” symbolising an engagement, but the fact it says so few to make a setting shows that the relationship is not going to last.
“ Leant tide-cancered” talks about the seashells being battered by the tide and the damage they obtain through this is said to be cancer, this word again could refer to the relationship in a way that shows heartache and trouble and possibly death of the of it. The alliteration in “hollow homes” represents the domestic side of the relationship and that things where “once complete” representing the fact that things where once good but not any longer. ‘Hollow’ shows the relationship is over and that the idea has been forgotten.
“Wrapping them together in a silk scarf purse. Where they’re jostling was light” this could be the shells being wrapped to keep them safe but again can also refer to the relationship, as in they did try to save it by ‘wrapping’ it up, but they were unsuccessful, this is represented by the shells moving ‘lightly’
The writer then mentions the girl with her father this could signify the relationship between a father and daughter as being the only strong male bond the girl has.
“Her gold hair fraying like a night moths wings: the sheep bones blanching on the west most cliffs. In a natural cemetery of stones” – the girls hair fraying could symbolise her being free from the relationship and all that tied her down and the use of the word blanching, meaning white may be to do with renewal as in the relationship has ended which is a good thing. ‘Natural cemetery of stones’ could be the writer referring to the headstones, which adds to the impression of the relationship being over and dead-‘cancered’.
In conclusion both poems portray the relationships in hand effectively, but in different ways. ‘Arranmore’ the theme is more of a romantic story with the use of a more complicated relationship and choice of wording, it contains more metaphors- ‘shells’ representing the couples broken relationship, because of the shells being ‘cancered’ or ‘fractured’. Whereas the poem “seasoned” uses a more simple text, which I felt is easier to understand and interpret. Such as “ at home he bathed us on a Saturday night.” Showing the relationship between a daughter and father.
By Kirsty Hill
