Analysis Of Gwen Hardwood's Poem 'In The Park'

English 300
September 25, 2014 “In The Park” Poem Explication The Poem “In the Park” by Gwen Hardwood represents the idea of changing identity because of certain circumstances as well as challenging common ideas, paradigms, values, and beliefs which is commonly held amongst mothers in today’s society. Harwood wrote the poem with relatively simple composition techniques but it provides a rather big impact which helps to give an insight into the life of a mother which bares the burdens of children. The title of the poem “In the Park” immediately gives us an image of the geographical landscape in which the poem is set in and from further analysis, the poem is written
“Two children whine and bicker, tug her shirt” (line 2), represent the constant attention the mother has to bestow on her children, as they hang on her like parasites. In line 3 “A third draws aimless patterns in the dirt”, and this represents the innocence of her children and how carefree they are. Now line 4 introduces a new character that is related to her past life before she was a mother of 3. When “someone she loved once” passes by, she is not able to “feign indifference”. This shows that she still cares for this man and loves him. The balloon that rises from his head not only represents what he is thinking, which are obvious to the woman and makes her realize how little worth the man sees in her life, but also that Harwood sees him as an escape. This is also strengthened by the fact that Harwood uses personification in line 6 when he states, “Time holds great surprises.” The word “time” is intangible, but is used by the two characters to explain how their lives have diverted so far from one
In the following 6 lines, Harwood illustrates the extent to which the woman feeling trapped. “They stand a while in flickering light, rehearsing the children’s names and birthdays,” (lines 9), the flickering lights represent the length of the conversation between the worn out mother and the old love. During their conversation the mother speaks of her child oriented life as if she is happy with the life she lives, which is ironic since she speaks of the past as if it her choices were not thought of as mistakes. Next, the mother “says to his departing smile” (line 12), “it’s so sweet to hear their chatter, watch them grow and thrive” (line 11). The diction chosen line 12 is very powerful, Harwood chooses the word “departing” rather than say “leaving”, in other words things that depart tend not to be seen again or for a long time period. After the man leaves, she sits “staring at her feet” (line 13). This shows that she is embarrassed of her life and regrets the decisions she made. Her comment to the wind shows the absolute dread the character feels towards her own life. However, the only person she can tell is the wind and therefore is forced to keep her emotions inside. This imagery is used as though her life is being “swept away” by the wind, and the way she looks at and experiences life. She didn’t want her old lover to notice her sad life, so she