Introduction
The bond between parents and children is a universal issue that numerous poets have addressed over the years. In the poems “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden and “The Possessive” by Sharon Olds, the writers share their perspectives on the parent-child relationship. Although the two works employ different approaches to the issue, they both delve into the complexities of the association and its impact on both parties.
The writers employ imagery to convey the emotions associated with the situation and explore the challenges of how a parent can influence a child’s life. Images are used in Hayden’s “Those Winter Sundays” and Olds’ “The Possessive” to depict the similarities and differences in the parent-child relationship and its consequences for both parties. Despite their various approaches, these poems demonstrate how the parent-child relationship affects both parties.
Similarities
These poems explore the relationship between parents and their offspring. Hayden employs powerful imagery to convey a father’s love and care for his child, even in the most challenging circumstances. Hayden depicts the father rising early in the morning to light the fire and prepare breakfast for his son and the son failing to recognize his father’s sacrifice and work (Marciano et al. 12). Olds’ poem is more theoretical. It explores the challenges of the connection by using the concept of a parent’s love as a controlling force.
These poems show how a parent’s love can be both a source of comfort and a cause of trouble in a child’s life. Additionally, the poems apply images to illustrate the relationship between parents and children, with Hayden’s poetry more detailed and Olds’ poem more abstract. Hayden uses physical imagery to prove the father’s love for his kid. He refers to the father’s hands as ‘cracked from cold,’ his ‘blue, dark cold,’ and the ‘chronic anger of that house’ (Marciano et al. 11). These images depict a father’s love and sacrifice, even in the toughest circumstances.
On the other hand, Olds is more abstract, exploring the challenges of connection through the notion of a parent’s love as a form of selfish power. Olds describes the ‘tangled vines’ of a parent’s love as ‘as strong as iron.’ These images illustrate how a parent’s love can cause both comfort and conflict in a child’s life.
Differences
One difference between the poets is that Hayden’s poem is written in a clear narrative style, while Olds’s is more abstract and lyrical. Hayden’s poem is written from the child’s point of view, narrating the father’s love and care for his child. The poem is rich with powerful imagery that reflects the father’s commitment and sacrifice. That includes “No one ever praised him” and “What did I know, what did I know of love’s austere and lonely offices” (Marciano et al. 12).
Sharon Olds’ poetry, on the other hand, is written more abstractly and lyrically. There is no story, but the poem analyzes the protectiveness of a parent’s love. Old utilizes imagery of a “strangling vine” and a “despairing web” (Wakefield 15) to depict how a parent’s love may become disgusting and oppressive.
The two poems also vary in tone; Hayden’s voice is characterized by thoughtfulness and yearning, while Olds’ perspective is defined by curiosity and critical examination. The poem is written in the voice of an adult reflecting on their youth and has a melancholy, bittersweet tone. The speaker has new knowledge and gratitude for his father’s love and care.
On the other hand, Olds’ poem has a more curious and critical tone. The poem is not told from an adult’s perspective looking back on their youth, but instead explores the concept of a parent’s defensiveness of their love (Wakefield 16). As it explores the concept of a parent’s love, which may be suffocating and oppressive, the poem adopts a more critical and questioning tone.
Lastly, Hayden’s poem is about a father’s love and care for his child, while Olds’ poem concentrates on the greediness of a parent’s love. Hayden’s poem is narrated from the son’s perspective as he reflects on his childhood, depicting a father’s love and loyalty even in challenging circumstances. The poem emphasizes the father’s effort and commitment, such as “No one ever praised him” and “What did I know, what did I know of love’s austere and lonely offices” (Marciano et al. 12). Olds’ poem addresses the concept of a parent’s love that may become suffocating and oppressive.
Conclusion
The poems “Those Winter Sundays” and “The Possessive” offer insight into the complexities and hardships of the parent-child relationship. The poems use imagery to depict the bond between parents and children in various ways. Hayden employs vivid pictures in “Those Winter Sundays” to communicate a father’s love and care even in tough circumstances.
At the same time, Old takes a more abstract approach in “The Possessive” to examine the selfishness of a parent’s love. While both poems are serious and wise about the relationship between parents and children, they employ distinct tones and tactics to examine the degree of the relationship in different ways.
Works Cited
Marciano, Joanne E., and Vaughn W. M. Watson. “‘This Is America’: Examining Art factual Literacies as Austere Love across Contexts of Schools and Everyday Use – the Urban Review.” Springer Link, Springer Netherlands, 2020.
Wakefield, Richard. “Sharon Olds.” Poetry Archive, 2020.