Women are valuable members of society as they ensure the character development of their children. They care for the children right from the early developmental stages. The mother also immensely contributes to the success of the father. The conspicuous void left when the mother is away cannot be filled by anyone else. Both the children and the husband will definitely miss her because she is the epitome of their comfort and sustenance.
“The Mother Return” by Dorothy Wordsworth is a highly sensational poem. It talks about the great bond between children and their mothers. This is evidenced by the high sense of expectancy expressed by the son when the persona reveals that their mother, whom they have missed for a whole month, is about to return. The boy cannot wait for tomorrow. He needs to see the mother immediately! The poem foregrounds the pivotal role played by the mother and the extent to which her absence can disturb the children’s minds. Ironically, the persona does not encourage the boy but tells her the mother is far away. This, however, does not weigh down the boy. He keeps hoping for the mother’s return.
The song, “Oh mother” by Christina Aguilera is a great appreciation of the singer for the great upbringing from her mother. She immensely appreciates the pain and suffering persevered by her mother to make her who she is. The mother had tackled the challenges in a way that left the singer stronger. She argues strongly in defense of the mother asserting that the mother is the one who will sick closer even if everyone in the world neglected you.
Both the song and the poem echo the idea of appreciating the mother. Whereas the poem gives welcoming remarks to the mother and invites her to revert to her rightful position and role in the family, the song offers gratitude for the role she has already played. The personas in both cases yearn for the mother’s company and abhor anything that would separate them. Mothers go through a lot to ensure their children have a bright future. Due to this fact, Christina really appreciates her mother for her womanly act of taking care of her well. As the song begins, it seems the persona is addressing the mother just shortly before her return. It is only later in the song that we discover that as soon as the mother returned, the persona sang this song to welcome her. This aspect of parallelism in both the poem and the song shows that the mother in both cases had been away from the children and this culminates into a great urge for a reunion. That is why the mother’s return in the poem calls for a celebration.
“And she tomorrow will return/ tomorrow is the happy day” (Wordsworth 3-4).
Since the first words of the song are in the past tense, it could be predicted that the mother is perhaps dead.
“She was so young with such innocent eyes, she always dreamt of a fairytale life” (Aguilera 2-3).
However, we later learn that this is not the case. The mother lives on and continues to care for her precious daughter. From the theme of the song, we can comfortably say that the predictions made are only imaginative. The first line does not give any hint of the mother returning the same day. This is different from the poem where the first line is in the past giving possible allusion to the mother’s death.
“A month sweet little one is past/ since your dear mother went away” (Wordsworth 1-2).
Unlike in the song, the use of the past tense in the poem is of little impact. We cannot confusedly say that the mother is dead from the phrase “went away” because our hope for her return is ignited almost immediately in the subsequent lines. The mother is greatly missed in the poem heightening the hope for her return and the desire for a family reunion.
The language that the poem uses is easy to understand and the events are recounted in chronological order. One is first introduced to the duration when the mother was away and then tipped on what will become of the family on her return. The song uses communicative language and has an emotional touch brought about by the tears the mother has to shed and the difficulty with which she raises the singer. The singer’s sense of appreciation and gratitude to the mother is also something I find highly efficacious. The poet progressively utilizes figurative language. Similes and metaphors are tactfully employed to foreground the joy that the mother’s return brings to the family.
“A month sweet little ones are passed/ since your dear mother went away” (Wordsworth 1-2).
However, the poetic license to shorten words has caused the negative effect of compromising the reader’s comprehension of the poem.
“We told o’er all that w had done” (Wordsworth33).
This use of syncope as a style in the word “o’er” to mean “over” can be confusing to some readers and therefore does more harm than good.
Although the song is written in simple language that everyone can understand,
“She was so young with such innocent eyes/ she always dreamt of a fair life/ and all the things that your money can buy” (Aguilera 2-4).
It also contains complex styles that may hinder audience comprehension. Moreover, its literariness is questionable since it recounts events in a straightforward way that is not characteristic of literature. This brings it closer to prose than poetry. In comparison, the language of the poem is quite more complex than the song. However, the poem’s use of similes and metaphors to emphasize foregrounds its literariness.
“Her joy is like an instinct joy/ of kitten, bird or summer fly” (Wordsworth 21-22).
Instead of the poet addressing the kids to explain the mother’s return, it would make much more sense if the father and the mother were addressed for being away and then celebrating the family reunion. Appreciation and praise of the mother makes her proud of her role in the family. If I were the mother, I would not neglect my children for that long. I would rather be present to make sure they are brought up well. The author’s aim for writing this song is for the family members to appreciate the significance of the mother. The author’s praise for the mother is thus justified.
“When the mother returns, joy would fill the family, O blessed tidings!” (Wordsworth 5).
The fact that the kids wait eagerly for the mother will make her happy on her return. She will be delighted to hear a song sang in her praise. Indeed the efforts of the mother to raise the kids deserve praise.
“O mother we are stronger/ from all the tears that you have shed” (Aguilera 10-13).
The sadness of the children caused by the mother’s absence will culminate into merry making when she finally returns. Although her return should be a joyous moment, the mother is also to blame for the children’s emotional torture. However, the somber mood of the children will change into a joyous one when she arrives.
Mothers need to know the essential family roles that they have to play. They are the major unifying factor in the family. However, they should serve their children for their good future, without necessarily expecting anything in return. They should not abandon children at tender age. In the article, “The power of a mom’s Love.” By Laurie Cameron, we find a mother who despite her child’s disability and societal neglect, she does her best to secure a good future for the child by looking at the child positively. Due to this experience, she goes further to extend a hand of help to other special needy children in the society.
“By now, Laurie is ill in as a mother dedicated to helping not only Luke but other special –needs children- and their parents. She left Fortune five years ago, and since then, she has bubbled over with ideas” (Nocera 2).
Both the poem and the article explain the role of the mother in the family. We are what our mothers made us to be in our toddlerhood, and they remain to be our heroes. Responsible motherhood is a key element in the family that should be embraced by all mothers. All members of the family should also offer gratitude to the mother for her efforts. The persona in the poem makes the children sad by saying the mother is still far away and her arrival is tomorrow, not today. Even though the mother might sometimes be away for valid reasons, her absence should not be prolonged. Whether the children are disabled or not they need unconditional love from the mother. Our mothers took care of us to reach where we are and they deserve appreciation. The song rightly educates those who disregard the fact that their mothers contributed immensely for their upbringing.
Works Cited
Aguilera, Christina. “Oh Mother”: [poem]. , n.d.. Print.
Nocera, Joe. The Power of a Mom’s Love: [poem]. , n.d.. Print.
Wordsworth, Dorothy. The Mother’s Return: [poem]. , n.d.. Print.