I See You Dancing, Father Flashcards
starts off poem in the morning, ordinary scene
after the night’s rest
son already in kitchen eating breakfast, indicated by this word, what he sees his father come through
door
dad starts to dance out of nowhere
started to dance a step
rhymes with door, creating pleasant verbal music, place where dad begins to dance
middle of the kitchen floor
dad is whistling, no music playing, he does what he wants, is unique/original/creative
as you danced you whistled
you made your own music
dad is not self conscious, he is self assured, contant with himself, comf in his own skin, fact that son sees these traits in him shows admiration and that he is a good father
always in tune with yourself
dad is not so in tune with himself later in life, disconnect between mind and body, mind deteriorating
well, nearly always
the son bypasses the period when his dad wasn’t himself, goes back to his crystal clear memory in his mind when his dad was himself, when his true character was on display, before deterioration, the unbroken man…..
wants to remember dad at his best
I go back beyond the old man
mind and body broken
to find the unbroken man
it was an ordinary way but it sticks with the poet, maybe it encapsulates his dad and captures his personality, the memory is crystal clear and strong, it is a fond memory for him
it is the moment before the dance begins
personification - dad holding back a grin/smile, its as if his lips have their own mind trying to hold back smile so he can whistle
your lips are enjoying themselves
poet vows/promises his dad to remember him at his best no matter what happens in the poet’s life or in what time he has left
whatever happens or cannot happen in the time i have to spare
ending reinforces/reaffirms title, and how important it is to poet to honour his father’s memory at his best, as he truly was, dancing in the kitchen and in tune with himself,
i see you dancing, father
themes
love
ageing
tranquility/peace of mind
