Analysis of issues about “Family” from four poems
Michelle Moran’s poem titled A tribute to family best defines family. It states that family is God’s creation. “But God created families. As only our Lord can” (Moran). Family is also the basis of love, respect, honor and obedience. Family is made up of different parties such as father, mother and siblings each of whom has a beautiful and God-ordained task to fulfil. Family as such comes forth as what is commonly known as nuclear family according to Moran.
The poet is honest to appreciate God for creating families from simple union of two people in marriage. “But look at the family, Created by only two In all” (Moran). The poet, Michelle Moran wants to assert that God is the one who starts and sustains families and that without him there would be no families and the society in general.
What I Would Do For You by Jayne Sena
On her part, Jayne Sena seems to assert that family is all about provision of material and emotional needs in her poem What I would do for you. She states and all through exaggerates on the things that she can do for her child. She appears dishonest to state some things such as “I would walk without my shoes to the end of the earth”, “I would hold your hand every minute of every day” (Sena) although they are said to express the deep sacrifice that the poet has for her child, these statements cannot be taken literary otherwise they would amount to great dishonesty.
The issues of honesty in the family comes fort through the way in which a parent like Sandberg acts out of honesty in giving advice to the son. He wants to tell the son all the truth that indeed the world was tough and life was difficult. I feel that Jayne Sena was not hones and that promising to do everything for the child is to be grossly dishonest.
Jayne Sena shows that parents indeed can do anything and even that which endangers their own lives for the sale of the children. The author shows that there are numerous tough and dangerous things that need to be done in life but it is only a parent who is ready to suffer for their children , “I will guide you through life, as this world can get quite wild” (Sena).
Jayne Sena comes forth as a compassionate mother. She is selfless, dedicated, daring and loving mother who swear to do everything for her children. The entire poem is a series of promises of what she would do for her children. She asserts that “For you there's nothing I wouldn't do, there's no such task” (Sena).
The plot of Jayne Sena’s poem titled What I would do for you, is such that it is made up of numerous promises on what the mother can do for their family. There is no specific plot in the poem but details emerge in no particular arrangement.
A Father To His Son by Carl Sandburg
In Carl Sandburg’s poem A father to his son, the plot develops from the numerous advice that a parent can give to their son. In deed he starts by worrying on what to tell his son because it was overwhelming. He begins by telling the son that life is hard and that he needs to develop his strength to overcome the many challenges in life. As the poem progresses, he offers more advice on how the son can rise to be his own man. In conclusion, the poet suggests to the son to study so that he may stand a good chance of bringing changes and innovations to the world just like Pasteur, Pavlov and Michael Faraday.
Family pushes the character in Carl Sandburg’s poem to become dedicated to their families. The father chooses to just sit and talk with his son alone. He is very expressive while the son acts as a keen listener. Seemingly the man had to create plenty of time because he feared that the son was unprepared for life. The father is a motivator and an encourager to the son as he tells him that he had the capacity to bring about positive change just like the ancient innovators.
Sandberg’s poem about a parent giving advice to their child is that parents love their children so much that they can go to untold lengths to ensure their children live better lives than they themselves did.
Digging by Seamus Heaney
Seamus Heaney’s poem titled Digging, also shows a dedicated and loving father who does farmwork specifically digging in order to help her cater for the needs of his family. He states “By God, the old man could handle a spade. Just like his old man.” (Heaney). The dedicated team shoes that “shows that digging has run in their family as part of family culture.
The poem seems to have been written by his son or daughter who is well aware of the difficult work that the parent does. It is a moment of honesty prevailing between family members where each understands the sacrifices made by the other parties and appreciates them. The author’s message in this poem is to encourage parents to keep doing their best for their children for it’s is a responsibility.
The poet’s message in this case is for the parents to prepare to make sacrifices for their children so that they may initiate a chain of responsible parenting in that the children will someday in the future be required to do the same for their children.
Works cited
A Tribute To Family - Poem by Michelle Moran
Carl Sandburg, A Father To His Son.
Jayne Sena Source: What I Would Do For you. 10 June 2016
http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/a-father-to-his-son-by-carl-sandburg
Heaney, Seamus Digging
