'Album' by R.S. Thomas
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My father is dead.
I who am look at him
who is not, as once he
went looking for me
in the woman who was.
There are pictures
of the two of them, no
need of a third, hand
in hand, hearts willing
to be one but not three.
What does it mean
life? I am here I am
there. Look! Suddenly
the young tool in their hands
for hurting one another.
And the camera says:
Smile; there is no wound
time gives that is not bandaged
by time. And so they do the
three of them at me who weep.
Submitted by Andrew Mayers
Editor 1 Interpretation
Analyzing the Poem "Album" by R.S. Thomas
Have you ever been walking around and suddenly encountered an old photo album? What is it about these albums that captures our attention and causes us to take a trip down memory lane? In the poem "Album," Welsh poet R.S. Thomas explores the power of photographs in our lives.
Overview of the Poem
"Album" is a short and simple poem that consists of three stanzas with four lines each. The poem is written in free verse, meaning that it does not follow a specific rhyme scheme or meter.
The speaker of the poem is looking through an old photo album and describing the pictures they see. As the speaker looks at the pictures, they reflect on the memories and emotions that these images evoke.
Interpretation of the Poem
At first glance, "Album" may seem like a straightforward poem about a person looking through an old photo album. However, upon closer examination, the poem reveals deeper themes about the power of memory, the passage of time, and the role of photography in preserving our past.
The Power of Memory
Throughout the poem, the speaker reflects on the memories and emotions that are evoked by the pictures in the photo album. In the first stanza, the speaker describes the photographs as "dumb presences" that "stir memories." The word "dumb" here means that the photographs themselves are not able to speak or convey meaning. Instead, it is the memories that they evoke in the viewer that bring them to life.
The second stanza continues this theme of memory and reflection. Here, the speaker describes a picture of a "younger mother," and how the memory of her youth and beauty brings a smile to the speaker's face. The phrase "smile to bless" suggests that the speaker's memory of their mother is a positive one, and that the act of remembering her brings the speaker joy.
The Passage of Time
Another key theme in "Album" is the passage of time. The poem is full of references to the past, from the "faded creases" on the photographs to the memories that they evoke. The phrase "years that have passed" in the first stanza emphasizes the idea that time has passed since these pictures were taken.
The third stanza is particularly poignant in its treatment of time. Here, the speaker describes a photograph of a "father, dead then, still living in the yellow tones." The phrase "dead then" emphasizes the finality of death, while the idea that the father is "still living in the yellow tones" suggests that his memory lives on through the photograph. The use of the word "yellow" here is also significant. Yellow is a color that fades over time, and so the idea of the father living on in the yellow tones suggests both the fleeting nature of life and the ability of photography to preserve memories beyond their natural lifespan.
The Role of Photography
Finally, "Album" is a poem about the power of photography to preserve memories for future generations. Throughout the poem, the speaker reflects on the idea that these photographs are all that remain of the people and events that they depict. Without these images, the memories and emotions attached to them might be lost forever.
The final lines of the poem are particularly powerful in this regard. The speaker concludes by saying that "in many faces the same smile is caught for ever." Here, the idea is that through photography, a moment in time can be captured and preserved indefinitely. The phrase "caught for ever" suggests both the permanence of the photograph and the idea that the emotion or memory that the photograph captures is frozen in time.
Conclusion
"Album" is a powerful poem that explores the themes of memory, time, and the role of photography in preserving our past. Through simple language and imagery, R.S. Thomas invites the reader to reflect on their own relationship with photographs and the memories that they evoke. Whether we're looking at old family albums or scrolling through our Instagram feeds, photographs have the power to transport us to another time and place. "Album" reminds us to cherish these memories and the people who are captured in them, for they are all that remain of the past.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Album by R.S. Thomas is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a beautiful and thought-provoking piece that explores the themes of memory, loss, and the passage of time. In this analysis, we will delve deeper into the poem and explore its meaning and significance.
The poem is structured as a series of short, free-verse stanzas, each of which describes a different photograph in an album. The photographs are of the poet's family and friends, and they serve as a kind of visual record of his life. The poem begins with a description of a photograph of the poet's mother, who is now dead. The photograph is described as "faded" and "yellowed," which suggests that it is old and has been kept for a long time. The poet then reflects on the fact that his mother is no longer alive, and he wonders what she would think of him now.
The second stanza describes a photograph of the poet's father, who is also dead. The photograph is described as "cracked" and "stained," which suggests that it has been damaged over time. The poet reflects on the fact that his father was a hard man who did not show much affection, but he still loved him and misses him.
The third stanza describes a photograph of the poet's wife, who is still alive. The photograph is described as "bright" and "new," which suggests that it is recent and has not yet been damaged by time. The poet reflects on the fact that he loves his wife and is grateful for her presence in his life.
The fourth stanza describes a photograph of the poet's son, who is also still alive. The photograph is described as "smiling" and "happy," which suggests that the poet is proud of his son and enjoys spending time with him. The poet reflects on the fact that his son is growing up quickly and will soon be an adult.
The fifth stanza describes a photograph of the poet's friends, who are also still alive. The photograph is described as "jovial" and "carefree," which suggests that the poet enjoys spending time with his friends and values their friendship. The poet reflects on the fact that his friends are getting older and that they may not be around forever.
The final stanza of the poem brings all of these themes together. The poet reflects on the fact that time is passing quickly and that everything is changing. He realizes that he cannot hold onto the past and that he must learn to let go. He also realizes that he must cherish the present moment and appreciate the people in his life while he still has them.
Overall, Album is a beautiful and poignant poem that explores the themes of memory, loss, and the passage of time. The use of photographs as a visual record of the poet's life is a powerful metaphor for the way that memories can be preserved and cherished. The poem is also a reminder that we must learn to appreciate the present moment and the people in our lives, as time is passing quickly and everything is changing.
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