Human memory is an important element that shapes and develops one’s life. It makes humans improve their lives. The selected works for this paper include “The Black Walnut Tree” by Mary Oliver and The Writer by Richard Wilbur. Both poems are based on different aspects and perspectives representing different themes on the scenarios of life. “The Writer” story is based on a life scenario of a person who is a father and handling the days of distress due to his daughter. Another poem, “The Black Walnut Tree”, is based on a story of a family which represents the strong bonding of family relationships and the need to select money or their honour. Wilbur uses several literary techniques to show the importance of the memory of an old man who is attached to his daughter but is now trying to maintain a distance so that she could be able to settle in her life without him, and in “The Black Walnut Tree” a family bonding is represented by Oliver in a sense that they have to erase their memories related with an old walnut tree just for the sake of money to use it returning the mortgage of their home.
Home is a place where different humans live together and share their lives by love. Oliver represented his interest in the family life by showing the deep hidden meaning of a family inside the poem. He chooses a family that is suffering from some issues and needs money. They have an option to get money by tearing down the black walnut tree that is considered part of their family. The family is attached to the tree as it represents their family’s love and values. Their love for the tree is precious enough that they are not able to tear it down even in the worst financial scenarios of their lives. Throughout the poem, the family expresses their love and important memories regarding the tree. With the idea that “an edge” emerges that is “sharp and quick as a trowel / that wants us to dig and sow,” Oliver uses different figurative language and imagery aspects to explain the constant care that is required by the tree (Oliver 17-19). They are not able to tear down their tree as it is a part of their lives and they do not want to become the ones who prefer money over their honor.
Father and daughter love is simply amazing and one of the most beautiful relationships in the world today. In the poem, Wilbur uses several literary techniques to show his love towards his daughter and express his selfishness as a father. The poet is showing the factor that a father needs to develop the character and personality of his daughter positively. “Young as she is, the stuff/Of her life is a great cargo, and some of it heavy:/I wish her a lucky passage.” (7-9). It shows and represents the good feelings of the father towards her daughter and wishes that show he loves his daughter.
Wilbur uses several literary techniques to show the importance of the memory of an old man who is attached to his daughter but is now trying to maintain a distance so that she could be able to settle in her life without him, and in “The Black Walnut Tree” a family bonding is represented by Oliver in a sense that they have to erase their memories related with an old walnut tree just for the sake of money to use it returning the mortgage of their home.
Works Cited
“A Look At ‘The Writer’ | The Poetry Of Richard Wilbur.” Curranheng5.edublogs.org. N.p., 2010. Web. 15 Apr. 2018.
“Mary Oliver – The Black Walnut Tree.” Genius. N.p., 2018. Web. 15 Apr. 2018.
