In the poems “Father” and “Mother”, Kooser reflects back on the speaker’s childhood memories, formulated from the senses of smell and sight, telling us how siblings comfort themselves with imagery and their consciousness. In “Father” we are given an age of ninety-seven that the deceased would be, should he had lived another twenty years. The memory is fictional and negative. “If you had lived, and we would all be | miserable, you and your children, | driving from clinic to clinic,” (Kooser “Father” 1–3). It never occurred, it’s just a perceived memory created to set the tone. An image of a ninety-year-old man suffering and fearful of illness protrudes from “Father”. “An ancient fearful hypochondriac | and his son and daughter | asking directions,
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In a strange twist of poetry, “Father” mentions mother, “On this day each year you loved to relate | that the moment of your birth | your mother glanced out the window | and saw lilacs in bloom”. (16-19) As are branches on a tree, fathers have mothers, mothers have fathers, and generational memories are created. Physical awareness comes through in “Father”, with the speaker recalling the connection of touch. “the heartbeat | under your necktie, the hand cupped | on the back of my neck, (12-14). These subtle moments of touch are quick, and don’t last all day, but a lasting impression is left in the speaker’s memory …show more content…
Simple words of wisdom become clearer, after the death of the person who said them to you in times of compassion. Kooser’s “Mother” is a positive kaleidoscope of memories ranging from sight, to smell to physical yearly occurrences popping up as the seasons do during the year. Only once does “Mother” veer into the sad state, “You asked me if I would be sad when it happen | and I am sad” (Mother 28-29). “Father” starts with un-experienced resentment about how dreadful it would have been if father stayed alive longer, but quickly polishes it away, reminding us that he died with dignity, leaving lasting memories. Kooser brings out thoughts festering immediately after a death, the ones that revolve constantly in our minds as we stand in front of the casket. As time passes, and days turn into years, these thoughts are a comfortable blanket to which we can lie under and
In a strange twist of poetry, “Father” mentions mother, “On this day each year you loved to relate | that the moment of your birth | your mother glanced out the window | and saw lilacs in bloom”. (16-19) As are branches on a tree, fathers have mothers, mothers have fathers, and generational memories are created. Physical awareness comes through in “Father”, with the speaker recalling the connection of touch. “the heartbeat | under your necktie, the hand cupped | on the back of my neck, (12-14). These subtle moments of touch are quick, and don’t last all day, but a lasting impression is left in the speaker’s memory …show more content…
Simple words of wisdom become clearer, after the death of the person who said them to you in times of compassion. Kooser’s “Mother” is a positive kaleidoscope of memories ranging from sight, to smell to physical yearly occurrences popping up as the seasons do during the year. Only once does “Mother” veer into the sad state, “You asked me if I would be sad when it happen | and I am sad” (Mother 28-29). “Father” starts with un-experienced resentment about how dreadful it would have been if father stayed alive longer, but quickly polishes it away, reminding us that he died with dignity, leaving lasting memories. Kooser brings out thoughts festering immediately after a death, the ones that revolve constantly in our minds as we stand in front of the casket. As time passes, and days turn into years, these thoughts are a comfortable blanket to which we can lie under and