Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

ABORTION CHILD, by JEAN VALENTINE Poet Analysis Poet's Biography

"Abortion Child" is a poem by Jean Valentine, an American poet born in 1934 who is known for her exploration of themes such as love, death, and spirituality. The poem was composed in 1980.

Explanation:

"Abortion Child" describes the speaker's experience of having an abortion and the feelings of grief and loss that accompany this decision. The second set of tracks in the poem is a metaphor for the life that the abortion child might have had, and the speaker reflects on the pain of this loss. The societal pressures and stigmas surrounding abortion are also addressed, with the speaker acknowledging the whispering and judgment that she has heard all her life. The poem was composed in 1980 and is considered a powerful and emotionally honest exploration of a difficult and controversial topic.

Poetic Elements:

Form: Free verse
Theme: Abortion, grief, and societal pressures
Imagery: Pregnancy, birth, and death
Tone: Intimate, personal
Sound: Repetition of phrases ("What did I do"), alliteration ("whisper to women"), and consonance ("all of my life")
Language: Simple and direct, with occasional use of elevated vocabulary
Figurative language: Metaphor ("a second set of tracks"), simile ("like a razor"), and personification ("all of my life / I've heard them whispering")
Structure: The poem is composed of two stanzas with varying line lengths. It is written in free verse, which allows the speaker to move between different observations and emotions without being constrained by a strict form.
Symbolism: The abortion child in the poem is a symbol of the grief and loss that can accompany this decision, as well as the societal pressures and stigmas that can make it difficult to openly discuss.
Emotion: The poem evokes a sense of grief, loss, and isolation in the face of societal pressures and stigmas surrounding abortion.

Conclusion:

"Abortion Child" is a deeply personal and moving poem that speaks to the experience of having an abortion and the societal pressures and stigmas that can make it difficult to openly discuss. Through its use of vivid imagery, metaphor, and symbolism, the poem encourages readers to contemplate the emotional and societal complexities surrounding this decision. The poem was composed in 1980 and is considered a powerful and emotionally honest exploration of a difficult and controversial topic.

Poem Snippet:

"What did I do,

what did I do,

with that second set of tracks?

I've heard them whispering to women all of my life."