Catrin

'Catrin' is a very powerful poem showing a mother's love for her daughter. Clarke shows her mixed emotions about her daughter, Catrin, expressing both unconditional love and also a desire to be an independent from her.

Languge devices to use in a Parent / Child relationships question.

Repetition of "I can remember you, child,", "I can remember you," shows that Clarke has a dominant position over Catrin who would be unable to remember her own birth.

Alliteration highlights Clarke's honest depiction of the painful birthing experience between her self and Catrin "our first Fierce confrontation," and links this physical confrontation to other verbal confrontations they will have later on.

A metaphor is used to show how the umbilical cord can be symbolic of their love. "the tight Red rope of love which we both Fought over." Interesting use of rope as ropes can be used to tightly bind things together, keep things trapped or used to rescue people (from drowning or falling). See her reference later to the "old rope" and the fact that she feels it restricts her "Tightening about my life".

Clarke uses an oxymoron to depict the birthing experience "wild, tender circles" Interesting line as it juxtaposes 'wild' and 'tender' whilst also hinting at a circle of life 'circle'.

Great use of enjambment in the line "Of our struggle to become/Separate." Sums up the complex parent child relationship that whilst having strong love, there is also clearly a desire to maintain individuality and autonomy.

Clarke uses punchy, short rhythmic sentences to show this disjointed, bumpy relationship in the line "We want, we shouted,To be two, to be ourselves."

Another example of brutal honesty in the line "Still I am fighting/You off". To depict the birth as a fight is a semantic field throughout the poem. Look for other violent language.

Clarke shows deep admiration for her daughter with her use of a string of adjectives "With your straight, strong, long/Brown hair and your rosy/Defiant glare" Clarke recognises all the good and bad qualities of her daughter.

Oxymoronic line towards the end sums up the complex parent child relationship "love and conflict"

A half true, half symbolic comment at the end where Clarke says Catrin has asked to "skate/In the dark, for one more hour" shows how Clarke is always faced with difficult situations to resolved with her daughter and how Catrin is too brave and bold for Clarke to hold down.

Miss D