The title of the poem does to some extent help us to identify the theme of the poem
as it gives a clue of someone walking away, but is not specific. Initially my thoughts
were of someone walking away from an unhappy relationship. However, after
reading, and analysing the poem I have identified the theme of the poem as the
journey of a parent whose child moves on from starting school to leaving home. This
is evident with ‘You walking away from me towards the School’ (L.7) and this is
reinforced with ‘That hesitant figure, eddying away’’ (L.11). It shows a parents love
for a child, and the hurt that they feel when the realise that the child must move on
‘And the love is proved in the letting go’ (L.20). However, it is not clear whether it is
from a mother’s or father’s perspective although ‘Your first game of football, then,
like a satellite’’ (L.4) could indicate or help us to visualise a father watching his son at
a game of football.
The poem is written in first person continually throughout the poem ‘I have had
worse partings, but none that so’ (L.16). This helps to create a personal effect as
though the writer is speaking directly to the child and telling them their thoughts and
feelings ‘You walking away from me towards the school’ (L.7). It similarly speaks to
the reader is the same way. The mood of the poem is set in the title as it evokes a
sense of sadness, of sorrow. The overall tone of the poem is of reflection ‘It is
eighteen years ago, almost to the day’ (L1), sombreness, a bittersweet parting which
has a subdued effect as shown in ‘I have worst partings, but none that so’ (L16).
The form of the poem is arranged in four stanzas, with five lines each. It has regular
pattern which helps to show the journey each parent goes on, from bringing the child
up to then having to let go ‘I have had worse partings, but none that so’ (L.16). The
four stanzas could also be compared to the different stages of life from a baby, to
toddler, to child and then to teenager. The poem has numerous enjambments
throughout the poem signifying that this is the nature of life. Looking at the use of
language the poet has repeated the word ‘away’ three times throughout the poem
representing the parents concern, but it also shows that the parent is aware of the
nature process of the child leaving home ‘How selfhood begins with a walking away’
(L.19) but still finds it heart wrenching with ‘Gnaws at my mind still. Perhaps it is
roughly’ (L.17). The rhyme scheme is ABACA which is continued throughout the
poem.
The first stanza commences with the poet having a memory that he shares with the
reader. A memory that the poet clearly remembers, which signifies the importance of
the event. Lines 1 and 2 sets the time of autumn which gives us a good idea of when
the event is taking place ‘A sunny day with the leaves just turning,’ (L.2), this is also
evidence of the poet using of imagery. The dash in line 3 stands out ‘The touch-lines
new-ruled – since I watched you play’ (L.3) and as its read out makes you pause,
almost reflecting on the time that has passed. There is further use of imagery in lines
three and four helping us visualise the image of a child being ‘wrenched’ from their
parents. The use of simile in line five ‘Wrenched from its orbit, go drifting away’ (L.5)
help us to get