Less ambiguous – suggests separation, freedom or letting go Pathetic fallacy – weather creating a mood Emphasises love as he still remembers the day – it is an important memory Speaker’s feelings are clear Highlights the way the boy turns away from his father to follow the other boys Reflects how the father found the separation sudden and painful Simile – suggests that the son did not want to go and was pulled away from his father. It also emphasise that the son is gaining freedom Transition from summer to autumn reflects the transition in his son’s life Metaphor/animalistic imagery – learning to fly – the speaker is concerned that his son is not ready to have freedom yet Sadness Repetition of ‘path’ - emphasises that the father is desperate for his son to find the right way in life and that he sees himself as helpless Abstract Noun – sense of fear. He is worried that his son won’t be able to survive without his protection Swirl – reflects the son’s uncertainty and lack of control Difficulties Simile/pathetic fallacy – use of nature – it is natural for the son to leave. It also shows that the father is coming to terms with what happened and understands that it is natural Uncertain Bites – the father is still affected by seeing his son go through the tough process of growing up Burning – experiences of growing up are painful Religious imagery – in the Bible, God lets go of Jesus, his only son, when Jesus came to Earth and was crucified. He did this to show humans that he loved them. ‘God alone’ shows how difficult it is to let go Fire turns clay into a pot – difficult experiences of growing up turn children into independent people The change to a more steady rhythm underlines how the father has come to a philosophical understanding – the son has to walk away from his father to find his own identity, and the father proves his love for his son by letting go of his son Walking Away It is eighteen years ago, almost to the day – A sunny day with leaves just turning, The touch-lines new-ruled – since I watched you play Your first game of football, then, like a satellite Wrenched from its orbit, go drifting away Behind a scatter of boys. I can see You walking away from me towards the school With the pathos of a half-fledged thing set free Into a wilderness, the gait of one Who finds no path where the path should be.That hesitant figure, eddying away Like a winged seed loosened from its parent stem, Has something I never quite grasp to convey About nature’s give-and-take – the small, the scorching Ordeals which fire one’s irresolute clay.I have had worse partings, but none that so Gnaws at my mind still. Perhaps it is roughly Saying what God alone could perfectly show – How selfhood begins with a walking away, And love is proved in the letting go.Cecil Day-Lewis
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