'A Sick Child' by Randall Jarrell
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The postman comes when I am still in bed.
"Postman, what do you have for me today?"
I say to him. (But really I'm in bed.)
Then he says - what shall I have him say?
"This letter says that you are president
Of - this word here; it's a republic."
Tell them I can't answer right away.
"It's your duty." No, I'd rather just be sick.
Then he tells me there are letters saying everything
That I can think of that I want for them to say.
I say, "Well, thank you very much. Good-bye."
He is ashamed, and turns and walks away.
If I can think of it, it isn't what I want.
I want . . . I want a ship from some near star
To land in the yard, and beings to come out
And think to me: "So this is where you are!
Come." Except that they won't do,
I thought of them. . . . And yet somewhere there must be
Something that's different from everything.
All that I've never thought of - think of me!
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Sick Child: A Masterpiece of Poetic Imagery
Randall Jarrell’s poem, A Sick Child, is a masterful piece of poetic imagery that captures the emotions and pain of a mother, as she watches her child struggle with illness. Through vivid descriptions and powerful metaphors, Jarrell creates a hauntingly beautiful portrait of a mother's love and the fragility of life. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will analyze the themes, imagery, and symbolism in A Sick Child, and explain how Jarrell's use of language creates an evocative and powerful poem.
The Themes of A Sick Child
The central theme of A Sick Child is the fragility of life and the pain of loss. The poem describes the agony of a mother as she watches her sick child struggle to survive. The poem also explores the complex emotions of grief and despair that the mother experiences, as she comes to terms with the possibility of losing her child. The poem takes on a universal theme, as it speaks to the experience of all parents who have ever faced the possibility of losing a child. Jarrell's use of imagery and metaphors deepens the emotional impact of the poem and captures the raw pain of the mother's grief.
The Imagery in A Sick Child
One of the most striking features of A Sick Child is the vivid imagery that Jarrell employs throughout the poem. The poem is full of powerful metaphors that convey the mother's emotional state and the fragility of life. For example, in the first stanza, Jarrell describes the child's sickness as a "small coal / caught in the dark veins of the lung" (lines 2-3). This metaphor conveys the sense of the illness as a dark, suffocating force that threatens to snuff out the child's life. The coal imagery also suggests the sense of a small, fragile life that is easily extinguished by a larger force.
Another striking image in the poem is the "white cave" that the mother creates around the child (line 9). This metaphor conveys the sense of the mother's protective instinct, as she tries to shield her child from the world and from the illness that threatens to take her away. The image of the cave also conveys a sense of isolation and loneliness, as the mother is cut off from the rest of the world and focused only on her child.
The imagery in the poem is both powerful and haunting. Jarrell's use of metaphor and simile creates a rich tapestry of emotion and meaning that draws the reader deeply into the mother's experience.
The Symbolism in A Sick Child
In addition to the powerful imagery, A Sick Child also employs powerful symbolism that deepens the emotional impact of the poem. One of the most striking symbols in the poem is the image of the "small bright faithful bird" (line 6), which represents the child's life. The bird is small and fragile, but also bright and hopeful. The mother's protective instinct is shown in her attempt to keep the bird alive, even as it struggles to fly free. This symbolism conveys the sense of the mother's love and her desire to keep her child safe, even in the face of overwhelming odds.
Another powerful symbol in the poem is the image of the "dark veil" (line 13) that separates the mother from her child. This veil represents the sense of isolation and despair that the mother feels as she watches her child struggle with illness. The veil is also a symbol of the inevitability of death, which will eventually take the child away from the mother forever.
Conclusion
In conclusion, A Sick Child is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the raw emotions of a mother struggling to save her sick child. Through vivid imagery and powerful symbolism, Randall Jarrell creates a haunting portrait of the fragility of life and the pain of loss. The poem speaks to the universal experience of all parents who have ever faced the possibility of losing a child. Through his skillful use of language, Jarrell creates a masterpiece of poetic imagery that will resonate with readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
A Sick Child: A Heart-Wrenching Poem by Randall Jarrell
Randall Jarrell's "A Sick Child" is a heart-wrenching poem that explores the emotions and thoughts of a mother whose child is suffering from a life-threatening illness. The poem is a powerful portrayal of the agony and helplessness that parents experience when their child is sick, and it captures the essence of the human condition in a way that is both poignant and profound.
The poem is structured in three stanzas, each with a distinct tone and mood. The first stanza sets the scene and establishes the mood of the poem. The mother is sitting by her child's bedside, watching him sleep, and she is filled with a sense of despair and hopelessness. The imagery in this stanza is powerful and evocative, with the mother's tears falling "like small, white stones" and the child's breathing sounding "like the soft hush of the sea." The use of simile and metaphor in this stanza creates a sense of depth and complexity, and it draws the reader into the emotional world of the mother.
The second stanza shifts the focus to the child's illness and the mother's attempts to understand it. The mother is searching for answers, trying to make sense of the disease that is ravaging her child's body. She is filled with questions and doubts, wondering why her child has to suffer and what she could have done differently to prevent it. The use of rhetorical questions in this stanza is particularly effective, as it conveys the mother's sense of helplessness and her desperate need for answers.
The third and final stanza is the most powerful and emotional of the poem. The mother is overcome with grief and despair, and she is struggling to come to terms with the fact that her child may not survive. She is filled with a sense of loss and regret, wishing that she could turn back time and do things differently. The imagery in this stanza is particularly striking, with the mother's tears falling "like rain on the roof" and the child's breathing becoming "like the sound of a clock winding down." The use of metaphor in this stanza is particularly effective, as it conveys the sense of finality and inevitability that the mother is feeling.
Overall, "A Sick Child" is a powerful and moving poem that captures the essence of the human condition in a way that is both poignant and profound. The poem is a testament to the power of language and the ability of poetry to convey complex emotions and ideas in a way that is both accessible and meaningful. It is a poem that speaks to the heart and soul of every parent who has ever had to watch their child suffer, and it is a reminder of the fragility and beauty of life.
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