There can be no denial of the fact that the poem, Children’s Hospital, penned by the eminent poet, Katie Ford, is one of the finest literary works that leaves a lasting mark in the minds of the avid readers. The poet goes on to use her prowess so as to bring out the images with the apt use of literary devices. It needs to be noted that this literary work deals with a grave matter. One is more accustomed to associate children with innocence and exuberance. However, this poem in context portrays a grim side related to life with the children being at the center of it. A close introspection of the poem would surely enable one to have a much better understanding of the matter in context. This poem goes on to use the third person point of view of the narrator so as to present a holistic view of the matter portrayed, and thus catapults the affective appeal of the subject.
It needs to be reckoned by one and all that the narrator presents a subjective description of the children’s hospital so as to influence the avid readers with the sheer horror and pain associated with the ambiance in context. It is this subjective approach of the narrator that evokes the emotions of the readers as they continue going through the poem in context. The poem plunges into the sea of emotions right from the very inception as the poet pens, “Our sorrow had neither place nor carrier-away, / and dared not hover over the child / whose breath opened as transom / of a frail house.” (Ford 1) It has to be taken into account in this context that the narrator of this poem associates the point of view utilized in penning this literary work with the eyes of the readers. The very use of the expression “Our sorrow” goes on to show the collective emotions of the people who are seeing the matter in context. As such, the poem readily engages the readers who can associate themselves with the narrator of this poetic work.
The subjective approach of this poem is coupled with evocation of images that engage the readers to the text. Right from the very beginning of this poem, the poet goes on to use imagery to evoke the emotions of the people. As such, she compares the physical condition of the ailing child with a frail house. Intriguingly, the subjective yet third person point of view of this literary work goes on to speak for the readers. This affects the holistic affective charm of the lines of the poem. Since the subject matter of this poem is quite a grave one indeed, the point of view used in the description of the matter plays a key role in ascertaining audience’s engagement and reaction to the things that have been portrayed in the literary work.
The point of view of the narrator of this poem goes on to drag the readers mind to the ambiance created in the poem. There is no way one can ignore the grim images and the emotions associated with those images. The poet pens, “Each day bridgeless, each night birdless, / all the nocturnals needless at the expanse / of our nightwatch.” (Ford 1) This approach makes the readers tread into the domain of the children’s hospital that has been portrayed in the literary work. The poem truly evokes the imagination of the readers as they are engaged in creating the images in the mental space of their psyche. The poet subtly guides the readers to the fact that they are, in fact, caught up in a “horror show.” By the time the poet says this, the readers are already in the children’s hospital created in their mental space.
The point of view of the narrator is used by the poet to evoke the emotions in the extreme form by providing stimuli to evoke the pain and horror associated with the children’s hospital. The narrator wonders if the readers are in sleep so as to make the readers comprehend the nightmarish nature of the scenes inside the children’s hospital. The poet makes a very strong remark as she pens, “the mother can't know / if she counts as a mother” to show the utter haplessness associated with the destiny of the children as their mothers are only left to witness their children helplessly. It seems as if the poet is traversing through this children’s hospital and documenting the emotions and images that are there in the place. As such, the readers of the piece are totally immersed in the affective experience of reading this poem.
The narrator finally exudes the singular presence so as to instigate the readers of this poem to think on their own about the images portrayed in the literary work. The poet pens, “I don't know / if the child heard / what wept at the bedside” so as to make the readers realize that they were till now inside the mind of the narrator. They have associated their thoughts in congruity with the narrator’s point of view. Here, they are made to understand that the sheer horror of seeing a child in severe ailment is something that can very well stir the human mind to the very core. The poem finally ends on a note by leaving a lasting impression on the innermost core of the hearts of the avid readers as the pain and sufferings of the children’s hospital echo in their minds.
In conclusion, it would be correct to opine that this poem by Katie Ford is surely a commendable work of literature. The point of view of the narrator of this poem immensely contributes to the holistic effect of the work. The readers of the poem are engaged to the utmost degree as they are left stirred. The trauma and agony of grownups seeing the children in ailment is unbearable. The grim picture portrayed in this poem stands in contrast to the general association of innocence and children. The point of view of the narrator of this poem is skillfully imbibed into the minds of the readers.
Works Cited
Ford, Katie. “Children’s Hospital.” Poetry Foundation. poetryfoundation.org, n.d. Web. 6
