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Both ‘Nettles’ and ‘Harmonium’ deal with negative emotions such as fear and pain; however in both poems these emotions are rooted in love. In the poem “Nettles” by Vernon Scannel the strong emotions the father feels toward his son are shown through the use of the sematic field of war and the exaggerated fear the father feels when he sees his son being hurt. For example, the phrase “regiment of spite” demonstrates this. The word “regiment” implies the idea of war as it highlights the organisation of the army this exemplifies the strength of the nettles and that the organisation makes them more strong and fearful to fight against. This therefore demonstrates how important the father’s emotions are in order to protect the son. In comparison, in the poem “Harmonium” by Simon Armitage the son’s emotions for his father are shown in the extended metaphor of the harmonium.
The poets of Harmonium and Nettles have explored a father and son relationship. The poem Nettles describes a positive father and son relationship; the father avenges the son’s pain, inflicted by nettles, by slashing them;” blisters beaded on his tender skin… went outside and slashed with fury”. The word “fury” suggests the father is not satisfied by what they have done and portrays ideas about their relationship; the father is protective and caring over his son. In comparison, the presentation of the father and son relationship in “Harmonium” is not as direct, which highlights the theme of hidden emotions. Throughout the poem, Armitage presents the father as joyful and characteristic, contrasting the reserved portrayal of the son. This relationship is different to “Nettles” as the emotions are present in both, yet Scannel suggests that the father is more willing to express his feelings. The hidden emotions are further highlighted by Armitage’s use of “too starved of breath to make itself heard.” This phrase could imply that his lack of confidence in expressing his feelings is so extreme that he