Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

CHILD SINGING, by TESS GALLAGHER Poet Analysis Poet's Biography

"Child Singing" is a poem by American poet Tess Gallagher. It was first published in her 1983 collection "Willingly" and explores the themes of innocence, joy, and the beauty of childhood.

Explanation:

The poem describes a child singing in a carefree manner, with a voice that is pure and unaffected by the world's troubles. The child's singing is likened to a bird's song, full of unbridled joy and optimism. The speaker of the poem muses on the beauty of the child's innocence and wonders if they will be able to hold onto it as they grow older and become more aware of the world's hardships.

Poetic Elements:

Form: Free verse
Imagery: The use of bird imagery to describe the child's singing and the comparison of the child's voice to a "pure crystal"
Metaphor: The child's singing is compared to a bird's song, which represents freedom and unbridled joy.
Tone: The tone of the poem is nostalgic and wistful, as the speaker reflects on the beauty of childhood innocence.

Conclusion:

"Child Singing" is a beautiful tribute to the innocence and beauty of childhood. Through the use of vivid imagery and metaphors, Gallagher captures the purity and joy of a child's singing. The poem leaves the reader with a sense of nostalgia and a longing to hold onto the simplicity and freedom of childhood.

Poem Snippet:

"A voice like a pure crystal

falls through the broken light

of the roof, and shimmers

between the trees like water."