Poetry Essay

The three poems Remember written by Christina Rossetti, A Mother In A Refugee Camp by Chinua Achebe and Poem at Thirty-Nine by Alice Walker share the same negative theme of loss and separation. Remember explores the pain felt by losing loved ones. A Mother In A Refugee Camp emphasizes the relationship between a mother and her child living in a refugee camp. Poem at thirty nine is a poem about the reminiscences of a loved one.

Remember expresses the pain in losing and letting go of a loved one. This is shown through the techniques of imperatives and contrasts. The first few words said by the speaker is "remember me". This quote is very effective in expressing the personas demanding tone. The technique used is an imperative. This quote can have multiple interpretations as the speaker can be seen to be speaking in a selfish tone or in a concerned tone. In this sonnet the lover is addressed directly. The word 'remember' is repeated several times, this shows that there is a sense of fear the speaker holds that their lover might forget them too quickly. This word gives the effect of there being a separation between two lovers. The title itself consists of this word which shows the power of the word and the entire poem. The speaker at first appeals to her lover to remember her after death, but as the poem progresses she dispels her selfishness. The poem unfold as the word 'remember' is used the reader understands that there is separation between two lovers. The reason of the separation becomes more clear when "gone far away" is repeated. This quote conveys the concept of death. The speakers sorrow is stressed by the reappearance of the words 'gone away'. All sonnets are known to have a change in tone within them ; this sonnet has a change in tone from negative to positive. In the two quatrains the speaker repeats the word "remember", but the speaker uses the reiteration of the word "forget" towards the end. This supports the change of tone, she changes her