Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"My Father Comes Back from the Grave" by Linda Gregerson is a poignant and reflective poem that delves into themes of grief, memory, and the enduring influence of a father. Through vivid imagery and metaphor, Gregerson explores the ways in which the memory of a father shapes the lives of those he has left behind, particularly his daughter.

The poem opens with a call to transform the weight of grief into something lighter: "I think you must contrive to turn this stone / on your spirit to lightness." This sets the tone for a meditation on coping with loss and finding ways to continue living amidst sorrow. The speaker reflects on the ten years since the father's death, noting the significant yet limited number of things he truly cherished: "among all the things of the earth he took / to heart — they weren't so many after all."

The image of grass beneath their feet serves as a metaphor for the resilience and continuity of life: "Poor blades. So / leaned on for their wavering homiletic... it's / a wonder they keep their hold on green." The grass, pressed and leaned upon, symbolizes the burden of grief and the expectation for it to sustain and support. The speaker wishes for the father's return as grass, something enduring and ever-present, yet acknowledges that he "inclined to different metaphors."

The poem then shifts to the story of a neighbor, a young man with two small boys, who is now physically debilitated by cancer: "The wayward / cells... have so enveloped the brain stem that / his legs forget their limberness." This narrative of illness and physical decline echoes the themes of mortality and helplessness, contrasting with the father's strength and practical wisdom.

Gregerson highlights the practical and compassionate acts of building a ramp for the neighbor's wheelchair, even though he "will not live to use it much, a month perhaps." The focus on the act of building and the community effort involved reflects the father's influence and the values he instilled: hard work, care for others, and the importance of practical solutions.

The father's presence is felt throughout the poem, especially in the speaker's memories of his teachings and his approach to work: "Whose cigarette, / whose shot glass, whose / broad counsel at the table saw ('I told / you not to do that') ever / freighted a daughter's learning." The father's practical wisdom and the lessons he imparted through everyday tasks are central to the daughter's sense of self and her way of handling life's challenges.

The poem's climax occurs as the speaker imagines the father still watching over her, particularly in moments of neglect or failure: "And what should you see (still / sleeping) as you look for the source of the sound? / Our father on the mower making / modest assault / on the ever-inadequate-hours-of-the-day." This vision of the father, continuing his work even in death, underscores his enduring influence and the sense of duty and diligence he imparted.

In the concluding lines, Gregerson captures the father's steadfast presence and the idea that he remains a source of guidance and support: "knightly in his fashion and — it's this / I want to make you see — / in heaven to be called upon." The father's memory is portrayed as a constant, guiding force, offering reassurance and a model of resilience and practicality.

"My Father Comes Back from the Grave" is a deeply moving exploration of the lasting impact of a father's love and teachings. Through its rich imagery and reflective tone, the poem invites readers to consider the ways in which the deceased continue to shape and influence the lives of the living, offering both comfort and a call to action in the face of life's challenges.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...