Page 2: Structure and Analysis of "Walking Away"
Cecil Day-Lewis's "Walking Away" is structured in four stanzas of five lines each, following a regular rhyme scheme of ABACA. This consistent structure provides a framework for the poet's exploration of parental emotions and the process of letting go.
Highlight: The poem's structure, with its regular rhyme and stanza pattern, contrasts with the emotional turbulence described, perhaps suggesting the inevitability and naturalness of the separation process.
The poem opens with a precise temporal reference:
Quote: "It is eighteen years ago, almost to the day"
This line establishes a nostalgic tone and emphasizes the lasting impact of the memory on the speaker. The vivid imagery continues with descriptions of the setting, creating a clear picture of the day in question.
Day-Lewis employs several powerful metaphors and similes throughout the poem:
- "Like a satellite / Wrenched from its orbit" - This simile conveys the forceful nature of the separation and the child's new independence.
- "With the pathos of a half-fledged thing set free / Into a wilderness" - This metaphor emphasizes the child's vulnerability and unreadiness for independence.
- "Like a winged seed loosened from its parent stem" - This simile reinforces the natural aspect of separation while highlighting the parent's perspective.
Vocabulary: Pathos - a quality that evokes pity or sadness
The poem's language is carefully chosen to reinforce its themes:
- Words suggesting movement (e.g., "walking away," "drifting away," "eddying away") emphasize the ongoing nature of separation.
- The use of natural imagery (e.g., "leaves just turning," "winged seed") connects the process of growing up to natural cycles.
Example: The phrase "hesitant figure" captures the child's uncertainty and fear, contrasting with the inevitability of their growing independence.
The final stanza provides a powerful conclusion, with Day-Lewis reflecting on the universal nature of this experience:
Quote: "I have had worse partings, but none that so / Gnaws at my mind still."
This admission underscores the profound impact of watching one's child take steps towards independence. The poem concludes with the idea that true love is demonstrated through the ability to let go, a bittersweet but necessary aspect of parenting.
Definition: Selfhood - the quality that constitutes one's individuality; the state of having an individual identity.
Through its structure, imagery, and thoughtful exploration of parental emotions, "Walking Away" offers a poignant reflection on the challenges and rewards of parenthood, resonating with readers long after the final line.
