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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
The poem begins by mentioning that dying is the easiest part of becoming a saint, implying that the true challenge lies in living a life worthy of sainthood. The speaker acknowledges the traditional path to canonization, which often involves suffering and performing miracles, but then shifts focus to a personal and relatable experience: the struggle to soothe a child to sleep. This act, though seemingly small, requires patience, love, and self-sacrifice, qualities that are at the heart of true sainthood. By juxtaposing the grandiose with the ordinary, Barrax elevates the everyday act of parenting to the level of sainthood. The poem suggests that the path to sainthood is not reserved for the few who perform spectacular deeds but is also open to those who live their lives with love, dedication, and selflessness. The final image of the poem, with the speaker battling for an hour to rock and sing the child to sleep, serves as a testament to the quiet, unseen miracles that occur in everyday life. "Sainthood" invites readers to reconsider their understanding of what it means to be a saint. Through its exploration of parental love and sacrifice, the poem celebrates the sanctity of everyday acts of care and compassion, suggesting that sainthood is accessible to all who live their lives with a deep sense of love and duty.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...YOUTH'S IMMORTALITY by GEORGE SANTAYANA THE GLOVE AND THE LIONS by JAMES HENRY LEIGH HUNT A TRINITY OF MOTHERHOOD by FRED CLARE BALDWIN SYMBOL OF OUR COUNTRY by MAUD MCKINSEY BUTLER THE HAPPY HOUR by MARY FRANCES MARSHALL BUTTS |
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