Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Robert Creeley's "Mother's Photograph" is a deeply personal reflection on identity, familial duty, and the intersection of the past and future, all prompted by the image of the speaker's mother as a young girl. The poem explores the tension between personal aspirations and familial obligations, where the speaker reflects on the dreams and struggles that shape a life. Through the contemplation of a photograph, Creeley delves into themes of selfhood, memory, and the desire to escape the confines of home.

The opening lines, "Could you see present sad investment of person, its clothes, gloves and hat," suggest that the speaker is looking at a photograph of their mother, taken in the past, but imbued with the weight of present emotions. The "sad investment of person" hints at the emotional and material effort that has been poured into constructing an identity, symbolized by the mother's clothing. The mention of "clothes, gloves and hat" evokes a formal, perhaps traditional, appearance—one that reflects a desire to present oneself in a particular way. These items of clothing suggest a formality or an expectation of how one should look, especially in the context of presenting oneself to the world.

The phrase "as against yourself backed to huge pine tree, lunch box in hand in homemade dress aged ten" introduces the image of the speaker’s mother as a child, suggesting that the photograph may depict this moment in her life. The juxtaposition of the earlier, more formal image with this scene of childhood creates a striking contrast. The mother, "backed to huge pine tree, lunch box in hand," is depicted as a young girl on the verge of embarking on a journey to school, dressed in a "homemade dress." The pine tree, towering over the girl, could symbolize the overwhelming presence of nature, tradition, or the weight of familial expectations, while the "homemade dress" adds a sense of intimacy and resourcefulness, suggesting that the girl comes from a humble, hardworking background.

The image of the lunch box and the girl’s homemade dress highlights the innocence and simplicity of her childhood, yet the poem quickly shifts to explore the deeper implications of this moment: "to go to school and learn to be somebody." This line reveals the weight of expectations placed on the young girl, who is expected to use education as a means of transcending her humble beginnings. The phrase "learn to be somebody" reflects the pressure to achieve a socially acceptable form of success, to make something of oneself in the eyes of society and, perhaps, to escape the limitations of one’s upbringing.

The next line, "find the way will get you out of the small place of home," speaks to the desire for upward mobility and escape. The "small place of home" is depicted as confining, a place that the young girl—who would later become the speaker’s mother—must escape in order to fulfill her potential. This idea of escaping the smallness of home reflects a broader societal narrative of striving for success and the expectation that one must move beyond one’s origins in order to achieve significance.

The line "and bring them with you, out of it too" introduces the theme of familial duty. The young girl’s education and success are not just for her own benefit but are also tied to the expectation that she will lift her family out of their humble circumstances. This sentiment reflects a common narrative of intergenerational responsibility, where the success of one member of the family is meant to uplift the entire family. The girl’s dreams of escaping her small home are thus complicated by her sense of responsibility toward her family, who expect her to return and improve their lives as well.

The final line, "sit them down in a new house," completes the vision of success, where the young girl’s aspirations are fully realized. The image of sitting one’s family "down in a new house" symbolizes the fulfillment of the dream of escape, upward mobility, and a better life. This new house represents not just material success but also the possibility of comfort, stability, and security for the entire family. The journey from the homemade dress and the small home to the new house is emblematic of the social and personal transformations the mother is expected to undergo.

However, there is a lingering sense of sadness and complexity in this vision. The phrase "present sad investment of person" at the beginning of the poem suggests that, despite the achievement of these dreams, there is a deep emotional cost involved. The mother’s journey from childhood to adulthood, from the small home to the new house, is marked by a loss of innocence and perhaps the weight of fulfilling these familial and societal expectations.

Structurally, "Mother's Photograph" is written in a single, continuous flow, with no punctuation, creating a sense of fluidity that mirrors the way memories and reflections unfold. The lack of punctuation allows the poem to move seamlessly between past and present, between the image of the young girl in the photograph and the speaker’s contemplation of what that image represents. The poem’s language is simple, yet the emotions and themes it explores are complex, reflecting the interplay between personal aspiration and familial duty.

Thematically, the poem explores the tension between individual identity and familial obligation, as well as the broader societal expectations placed on individuals to achieve success and transcend their humble beginnings. The photograph serves as a symbol of both innocence and the weight of responsibility, capturing a moment of potential and expectation that shapes the course of a life.

In conclusion, Robert Creeley’s "Mother's Photograph" is a poignant reflection on identity, aspiration, and the emotional cost of fulfilling societal and familial expectations. Through the contemplation of a childhood photograph, the poem explores the complex interplay between personal ambition and the desire to uplift one’s family, suggesting that the journey from innocence to adulthood is fraught with both promise and sadness. The poem invites readers to reflect on their own relationships with family, home, and the pressures to succeed, all while recognizing the emotional weight carried by those who strive to transcend their origins.

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