Leaves
Leaves
Embedded Files
that lone tree on the ridge
is that my father?
it stands like him
in my mind the horizon is
formed by him even at this
distance I know that
grass plains sway to sweep
the void there is no chasm
between us
I crawled there once and sat
in his shade he did not know me
yet gave me leaves
now only a few leaves
remain on aging limbs
to beckon his story
if I climb to him now
and lie in his limbs
will our story unite?
will the leaves turn golden
and seeding grass sway
to console me?
Form (Structure)
Form (Structure)
Free verse 7 stanza poem, tercet lines (3 lined verses)
Word Bank
Word Bank
Stands, Crawled, Climbed, Sway, Rumination
Brief Description
Brief Description
An Autobiographical poem which ruminates on the absence of her father, as the leaves within the poem reflect on the parts of her father as the embodiment of a tree.
An Autobiographical poem which ruminates on the absence of her father, as the leaves within the poem reflect on the parts of her father as the embodiment of a tree.
The speaker in this poem sees a tree on the horizon and wonders if it is her father.
The poem functions on two levels:
She is a child of nature, but,
She also uses natural metaphors to explore her sometimes distant relationship with her father.
She indicates that, even though she does not know him well, their common culture and shared family identity bring them together as part of the same ‘story’.
Identity in Leaves
Identity in Leaves
The persona is unsure of their identity due to their broken and unfulfilled relationship with their father
The father is meant to provide knowledge in the form of "leaves"
A suggestion that the relationship between father and persona doesn't follow a traditional path
The sequence of actions read "stands", "crawled", "climb".
Annotations
Annotations
Analysis Table
Analysis Table
PEEL Paragraph
PEEL Paragraph
How does Ali Cobby Eckermann's choice of language communicate aspects of her individual identity?
How does Ali Cobby Eckermann's choice of language communicate aspects of her individual identity?
Page updated
Report abuse