The poems Father of “Pizza Boxes” and Mother of “Higher Duty” have some themes in common. Among the themes is child interest and care by parents depicted in both poems. In the first poem, Father of “Pizza Boxes”, a father takes his children out to have pizza. In the second poem, Mother of “Higher Duty”, the persona pockets some green onions to make soup for his son. Another similarity between the two poems is clear when the poems describe the lives of parents and how they go about their daily routine. In addition, the two poems show parents having fun doing outside activities; the father takes the kids out for dinner in the first poem, and the persona in the second poem is out jogging to relax.
Even with the much similarity, the two poems also have a few differences. Among the differences is that in the first poem the father takes his kids out and their friends as well, while in the second poem the persona, who is the parent to a son goes out jogging alone. Another difference is that in the first poem the father is described as not being a good cook. In the second, the persona is depicted as a good cook; this is brought out in the poem where the persona plans to cook soup for the son.
The paintings of these two poems would differ with the first poem being painted with dull colors since the father seems troubled and weighed down by the burden of keeping his kids happy and living with a broken heart. The second poem, on the other hand, can be painted with more bright colors since the persona is depicted as optimistic and hoping for a better future.
In a scene in the poem Father of “Pizza Boxes”, the events happen in a house setting after which it is moved to a restaurant hosting play station games. In the other poem, the setting is in a beach and a market place. In the poem, Father of “Pizza Boxes”, the character is a divorced father who is brought out as generous. In the second poem, the main character is an optimistic parent. The tone of the first poem can be described as melancholic since the father is brought out as depressed and thoughtful. In the second poem, the tone can be said to be hopeful as the persona is brought out hopeful of a better future.
Works Cited
Halliday, Mark. Divorced Fathers and Pizza Crusts. The University of Chicago Press, 2002. Print.
Hill, Caroline M. The World's Great Religious Poetry. S.l.: Greenwood, 2010. Print.
