In terms of structure, it is notable that the poem has six stanzas of varying length. This variation could metaphorically represent life and it’s unpredictability and variation. This point could also be supported through the use of free verse in the poem, also representative of the unpredictability of life. This could ambiguously represent discomfort within the speaker, possibly discomfort within her body relating to the way in which she ‘spoiled this body’, or within the way she is exchanging conversation with her younger self in some way. The last stanza is the shortest of all six, and maintains only three lines, making it a terset. This, in relation to the poem, could represent some sort of finality towards the end and could also suggest a unity of past, present and future, relating to acceptance of who this woman is, and has become, providing an equal ground between her and her nine year old self, suggesting that she has realized that nothing can be done in attempts to help her nine year old self as she must live by the moment and work everything out for herself, like everyone has to. This completely relates to the use of the journey within the poem, as it does not just relate to the journey between childhood and adulthood, but the emotional journey to acceptance that she cannot alter the past, nor could she have set herself up for the future.
Similarly, Dunmore also uses free verse within An Easy Passage, which suggests a relation to the similar themes used within the poems, and evidently puts across the similar message that life is unpredictable and maintains no structure. In differentiation, though, the poem is written in one long stanza, relating to the way in which the poem is a vignette. The one long stanza evidently represents this moment, as long and drawn out due to the significance it has in the subject’s life; a metaphorical movement from childhood to adulthood. This metaphorical movement relates to the concept of a journey in terms of how this simple jump causes this girl to become a woman.
Moreover, both poems actually use similar themes. For example, a strong theme of childhood to adulthood is evident throughout both poems. Within To My Nine Year Old Self, Dunmore creates a dialogue from the speaker to her younger self, providing a strong link, and clear messages between the two. For example, when Dunmore writes, ‘I shan’t cloud your morning. God knows I have fears enough for us both,’ it is evident that the speaker has very strong messages for the younger version of herself. The use of the phrase, ‘I shan’t cloud your morning,’ suggests that the speaker almost feels like a burden due the negative connotations of clouds. This could represent the way that adulthood can be seen as a burden on childhood, contrasting the positives and the negatives. It also creates the idea that the speaker is encouraging their younger self to be grateful for their childhood and the time they have left of it, suggesting that she wishes she’d made the most of it, whilst also connoting that she may not be the happiest of people in the adult life she currently lives, portraying feelings of regret and negativity. Furthermore, the use of the phrase, ‘I have fears enough for us both,’ portrays that the speaker suggests that her younger self is completely and utterly naïve, which may lead to having regrets. Although the speaker is talking about her fears for now, relating her unhappy state within adulthood, she also speak of the fears she has for her younger self and this completely relates to the use of a journey within the way that she is fully aware of what’s to come for this young girl, and she is afraid for her, creating a slightly unsettling feeling.
Likewise, An Easy Passage also uses the theme of childhood to adulthood, evident within the symbols of childhood and adulthood used throughout the poem and within her liminal state. It is evident that the house, and more importantly the windowsill she is leaping from, can be seen as a symbol for her childhood, whereas the gravel below her represents her approaching adulthood and the loss of innocence that comes with the movement of childhood to adulthood. It is evident that this loss of innocence occurs when Copus associates the home with stereotypical childlike dependencies, for example, her ‘family’ and ‘mother’. This is completely juxtaposed to when Copus uses the phrase, ‘the friend with whom she is half in love with’. This quote has various suggestions, but fully expresses what appears to be on the other side; what adulthood beholds. The use of the words, ‘half in love,’ suggests that the girl isn’t fully an adult yet as she is only halfway there, but ambiguously creates an idea of what she is imagining will come with adulthood, for example, love. This friend could also suggest a symbol for a lifelong partner, and could mirror the person she is yet to be with in her life. This is evident due to the way in which this ‘friend’ is standing in the symbolic adulthood. This also represents this girl’s longing for adulthood and her reasoning behind why she wants to jump. It portrays the idea that she is ready for new things and love, and connotes her eagerness to be there, whilst adding an understanding to the nerves she feels. This completely links to this journey of aging, as well as life, due to journeys having many stops and events along the way, for example, the love that one day this girl will have the opportunity to experience if she makes this jump.
Within the language of To My Nine Year Old Self, it is evident that there is a frequent use of dynamic verbs, for example, when Copus creates an anaphora of the word ‘rather’, during the lines, ‘you would rather run than walk, rather climb than run rather leap from a height than anything,’ This creates a list-like feel and relates to the endless possibilities of the childhood she is reflecting on, or ambiguously links to the repetitive nature of adulthood and the way in which each day seems to be the same, in complete juxtaposition to childhood. The use of these frequent dynamic verbs relates to the way in which childhood is full of adventures and doing anything and everything whenever and wherever, linking to this idea of how the possibilities are endless. This could also add a nostalgic and reflective mood to the poem, whilst also adding a sense of mourning within the speaker, of her childhood and the loss of this time due to this ever-moving journey of life.
In terms of language within An Easy Passage, colour words and a simile are used in order to create a symbol for the way in which the subject attempts to be an adult. This is evident when the poet describes, ‘five neat shimmering-oyster-painted toenails…which catch the sunlight briefly like the flash of arnaments’. The use of the oyster colour, presents an image of a grey/purple colour with hints of pink when observed in certain ways. Grey and purple both put across connotations of sophistication and maturity; although, the pink puts across ideas of youth and connotes a girly feel. This can relate to the way in which this girl is ‘crouched in her bikini’, suggesting that she is aware of her new, and feminine curves, also portraying a more sexualized, adult-like image, relating to the mature colours of grey and purple, however, when looked at in certain ways, or when observed in closer detail, this girl is not fully an adult yet and it is evident that she is still within childhood. Furthermore, the use of the simile, ‘like the flash of arnaments,’ creates a comparison between a girl’s toenails and weapons. This, at first, seems like an unusual comparison, but when analyzed in further detail, this completely relates to the liminal state she’s in and also suggests that through her painting her toenails, she is spending time on doing a more mature and feminine thing in order to feel more like an adult. This relates to the how she is not yet an adult so is spending her free time doing adult-like things in attempts to get there. The comparison of the weapons also suggests that she is, in fact, being a weapon to herself. This is due to adulthood being viewed, to the girl, as a mature, respectful life in which you can do as you please, rather than being told what to do by your mother (as she is, mother does not trust her with key), when in reality, adulthood is a trap due to the way it is filled with responsibility, decisions, working etc. She is providing a symbolic weapon to herself through her longing to dismiss her childhood and to move on with adulthood, when in reality when she eventually gets there, she will realize how much of a mistake she made and will long for those carefree days back, which ironically relates to the ideas put across in To My Nine Year Old Self. Both poems link within the way they speak of the journey from childhood to adulthood from before and after perspectives.
In conclusion, I believe that both poems deal with modern situations and maintain universal elements, creating a relatable feeling, which encourages everyone to feel something personal whilst reading the poem, which may suggest why they are popular. In response to the question, both poets use journeys within their poems to explore the movement from childhood to adulthood. It is interesting to observe the perspectives used to explore the theme, as the reader is given a review of childhood compared to adulthood within either poem. An Easy Passage relates to a longing for adulthood over childhood, with underlying unsettling feelings (through use of final simile), whereas To My Nine Year Old Self explores childhood from an adult’s perspective and is told through memories to create a reflective mood, relating to a longing for childhood over adulthood, which is completely paradoxical to An Easy Passage.
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