This poem could take a multitude of stances. When an unreliable narrator's point of view is used, there are always two meanings- the direct one and the one implied. The direct point of view is one of love and fun. The little boy is dancing wildly around the house, without a care whether mom approves or not. On the other hand, there is the violent imagery of "whiskey on your breath", "battered on one knuckle", and "right ear scraped a buckle." This implies, while the son takes no notice, his father is careless and probably drunk. So, the son and his father are having fun- but at what cost. The mom seems to view the situation for this stance- her spirits aren't lifted at all by their romping and playing. The rhyme scheme is simple, almost basic and childlike, further reinforcing the son's unreliable point of view.
No comments:
Post a Comment