Poetry, Poetry, and MORE Poetry

Out of the many poems I read this week, I chose a few which had the most meaning to me. The first poem to catch my attention this week was “Those Winter Sunday’s” written by Robert Hayden. All of the things the speaker’s father did for their family, such as starting a fire every morning, were done out of love. The significance of the title of the poem became evident as I read further into the poem. Even on a Sunday in the middle of winter, when most people want to remain curled up in bed, the father performed daily tasks for the benefit of his family. Throughout the poem, the speaker’s regret is evident. The speaker wishes he would have thanked his father for all the things he had done for him. One line in particular caught my attention: “love’s austere and lonely offices.” This line speaks of the offices held by parents. Parents are continually giving to their children without many “thank-you’s.”

Another compelling poem was “Daystar” written by Rita Dove. The poem is about a mother looking for an escape from her household duties if only for a short while. Toward the end of the poem, the mother was escaping not only her children but her husband as well. The mother was looking for a place where she could mean nothing to anyone and where no motherly or wifely duties existed. The woman chose the empty backyard. The mother had become overwhelmed by the things which needed to be accomplished. I think anyone who has dealt with children can understand just how overwhelming the daily tasks can become.

“Marks” by Linda Pastan was another poem packed with meaning. The woman was constantly being judged by her family. The manner, in which the speaker discusses her “marks,” or judgments, makes her irritation very evident. Not only are her actions judged, but each family member has their own grading system. If the family has the right to “grade” the woman, she has the right to leave the judgment system. I do not think it is right for the woman to leave her family, but I do not think they should judge her actions, especially when most of her actions are done to benefit other members of the family.

Therefore, I encountered a lot of great poetry this week and chose to discuss the ones which really struck a cord in me.