'To A Sad Daughter' by Michael Ondaatje
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All night long the hockey pictures
gaze down at you
sleeping in your tracksuit.
Belligerent goalies are your ideal.
Threats of being traded
cuts and wounds
--all this pleases you.
O my god! you say at breakfast
reading the sports page over the Alpen
as another player breaks his ankle
or assaults the coach.
When I thought of daughters
I wasn't expecting this
but I like this more.
I like all your faults
even your purple moods
when you retreat from everyone
to sit in bed under a quilt.
And when I say 'like'
I mean of course 'love'
but that embarrasses you.
You who feel superior to black and white movies
(coaxed for hours to see Casablanca)
though you were moved
by Creature from the Black Lagoon.
One day I'll come swimming
beside your ship or someone will
and if you hear the siren
listen to it. For if you close your ears
only nothing happens. You will never change.
I don't care if you risk
your life to angry goalies
creatures with webbed feet.
You can enter their caves and castles
their glass laboratories. Just
don't be fooled by anyone but yourself.
This is the first lecture I've given you.
You're 'sweet sixteen' you said.
I'd rather be your closest friend
than your father. I'm not good at advice
you know that, but ride
the ceremonies
until they grow dark.
Sometimes you are so busy
discovering your friends
I ache with loss
--but that is greed.
And sometimes I've gone
into my purple world
and lost you.
One afternoon I stepped
into your room. You were sitting
at the desk where I now write this.
Forsythia outside the window
and sun spilled over you
like a thick yellow miracle
as if another planet
was coaxing you out of the house
--all those possible worlds!--
and you, meanwhile, busy with mathematics.
I cannot look at forsythia now
without loss, or joy for you.
You step delicately
into the wild world
and your real prize will be
the frantic search.
Want everything. If you break
break going out not in.
How you live your life I don't care
but I'll sell my arms for you,
hold your secrets forever.
If I speak of death
which you fear now, greatly,
it is without answers.
except that each
one we know is
in our blood.
Don't recall graves.
Memory is permanent.
Remember the afternoon's
yellow suburban annunciation.
Your goalie
in his frightening mask
dreams perhaps
of gentleness.
Editor 1 Interpretation
To A Sad Daughter: A Deep Dive into Michael Ondaatje's Emotional Poetry
Michael Ondaatje's poem "To A Sad Daughter" is a heartfelt and emotional piece of literature that explores the complex relationship between a father and his daughter. The poem is filled with vivid imagery, powerful metaphors, and a deep sense of longing and sadness. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, symbols, and literary devices used in this poem, as well as the overall message conveyed by Ondaatje.
The Poem
Before we dive into the analysis, let's take a moment to read the poem in its entirety:
To A Sad Daughter
All night long the hockey pictures gaze down at you sleeping in your tracksuit. Belligerent goalies are your ideal. Threats of being traded cuts and wounds --all this pleases you. O my god! you say at breakfast reading the sports page over the Alpen as another player breaks his ankle or assaults the coach. When I thought of daughters I wasn't expecting this but I like this more. I like all your faults even your purple moods when you retreat from everyone to sit in bed under a quilt. And when I say 'like' I mean of course 'love' but that embarrasses you. You who feel superior to black and white movies (coaxed for hours to see Casablanca) though you were moved by Creature from the Black Lagoon. One day I'll come swimming beside your ship or someone will and if you hear the siren listen to it. For if you close your ears only nothing happens. You will never change. I don't care if you risk your life to angry goalies creatures with webbed feet. You can enter their caves barefoot with a box of cupcakes tied to your belt. I've heard that so much, it makes me want to vomit. I've loved you all your life what would be worse than saying this. Believe me I have no advice but this: Stay away from the hockey players.
Themes
The theme of the poem is the relationship between a father and his daughter, and the sense of longing and sadness that often accompanies it. The poem explores the father's love for his daughter, despite her faults and flaws. The father loves his daughter for who she is, imperfections and all, and wants her to be happy and fulfilled in her life. However, there is a sense of distance between the father and daughter, as if they are unable to connect fully on an emotional level. The father wants to be closer to his daughter, but he can't seem to break through the barrier that separates them.
Another theme of the poem is the importance of individuality and personal freedom. The daughter in the poem is portrayed as an independent and strong-willed person who asserts her own identity and refuses to conform to societal expectations. She is interested in hockey, a traditionally male-dominated sport, and resists the pressure to conform to gender norms. The father recognizes and respects his daughter's individuality and encourages her to pursue her passions, even if they are unconventional.
Symbols
One of the main symbols in the poem is hockey. Hockey represents the daughter's independence and strength, as well as her refusal to conform to gender norms. Hockey is a sport that is traditionally associated with masculinity, but the daughter embraces it as her own and finds fulfillment and joy in playing it. Hockey also symbolizes the distance between the father and daughter, as it is something that the daughter is deeply involved in and passionate about, but the father doesn't fully understand or share that passion.
Another symbol in the poem is the image of the ship and the siren. The ship represents the daughter's journey through life, and the siren represents the call of adventure and opportunity. The father encourages his daughter to listen to the siren's call and to take risks, even if they are dangerous. He recognizes that his daughter is strong and capable, and he trusts her to make her own choices and follow her own path.
Literary Devices
The poem is full of powerful literary devices that help to convey the emotions and themes of the piece. One of the most striking devices used in the poem is imagery. Ondaatje uses vivid and evocative imagery to create a sense of atmosphere and emotion. The images of the hockey players, the Alpen, and the Creature from the Black Lagoon all help to create a vivid and memorable picture in the reader's mind.
Another literary device used in the poem is metaphor. The belligerent goalies, the ship, and the siren are all metaphors that represent deeper emotions and themes. The belligerent goalies represent the daughter's strength and independence, while the ship and the siren represent the call of adventure and opportunity.
The poem is also full of powerful language and word choice. The use of the word "belligerent" to describe the goalies, for example, conveys a sense of strength and toughness that is associated with the daughter's passion for hockey. The use of the word "retreat" to describe the daughter's moods creates a sense of vulnerability and sadness that is poignant and moving.
Conclusion
"To A Sad Daughter" is a deeply emotional and powerful poem that explores the complex relationship between a father and his daughter. Through vivid imagery, powerful metaphors, and evocative language, Michael Ondaatje creates a sense of longing and sadness that is both beautiful and poignant. The poem is a testament to the strength of love and the importance of individuality and personal freedom, and it resonates deeply with readers who have experienced the same sense of longing and sadness in their own relationships.
As we reflect on this beautiful poem, we are reminded of the importance of embracing our own individuality, pursuing our passions, and loving our loved ones for who they are, imperfections and all. It is a powerful message that is both timeless and universal, and one that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
To A Sad Daughter: A Heartfelt Poem by Michael Ondaatje
Michael Ondaatje is a renowned Canadian poet, novelist, and filmmaker. He is known for his unique style of writing that blends poetry and prose. One of his most famous poems is "To A Sad Daughter," which was published in his collection of poems, "The Cinnamon Peeler" in 1989. This poem is a heartfelt expression of a father's love for his daughter and his desire to comfort her during a difficult time. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail.
The poem begins with the father addressing his daughter, who is sad and crying. He tells her that he understands her pain and that he is there for her. He says, "All night long the hockey pictures / gaze down at you / asleep in your tracksuit." This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem. The father is observing his daughter as she sleeps, and he is aware of her sadness. The mention of the hockey pictures is significant because it shows that the daughter is not alone in her sadness. The pictures are a reminder of the world outside, where people are playing and having fun, but the daughter is unable to join them.
The father then goes on to describe the daughter's sadness. He says, "Belligerent sadness / you try to bully it / into a suitcase." This line is powerful because it shows the daughter's struggle to deal with her emotions. She is trying to push her sadness away, but it is not working. The use of the word "belligerent" is interesting because it suggests that the sadness is fighting back, and the daughter is unable to control it.
The father then tries to comfort his daughter by telling her that he understands her pain. He says, "You have your own way of / breaking up with the world." This line is significant because it shows that the daughter's sadness is not something that can be easily fixed. She has her own way of dealing with it, and the father respects that. He is not trying to force her to be happy; he is simply there to support her.
The father then goes on to describe the daughter's beauty. He says, "Tonight, through your eyes, / I can see the moon's uneasy light." This line is significant because it shows that the father sees his daughter's sadness as a part of her beauty. He is not trying to fix her; he is simply admiring her for who she is. The mention of the moon's uneasy light is also interesting because it suggests that the daughter's sadness is a part of the natural world. It is something that cannot be controlled, but it is still beautiful.
The father then tells his daughter that he loves her. He says, "Love is not a profession / genteel or otherwise / sex is not dentistry / the slick filling of aches and cavities." This line is significant because it shows that the father's love for his daughter is not something that can be easily defined. It is not a profession or a service that can be provided. It is something that is felt deeply and cannot be put into words. The mention of sex and dentistry is interesting because it shows that love is not something that can be fixed or repaired. It is something that is felt deeply and cannot be controlled.
The father then goes on to describe his daughter's future. He says, "You will be who you will be / you will not be who you were." This line is significant because it shows that the father is not trying to control his daughter's future. He is simply there to support her and help her become the person she wants to be. The mention of the daughter's past is also interesting because it suggests that the father is aware of her struggles and is willing to help her move forward.
The poem ends with the father telling his daughter that he will always be there for her. He says, "Remember the moments when / we were together in a white room / and the curtain fluttered." This line is significant because it shows that the father and daughter have shared happy moments together. The mention of the white room and the fluttering curtain is also interesting because it suggests that the father sees his daughter's sadness as a temporary state. He believes that they will be happy again, and he is there to help her through this difficult time.
In conclusion, "To A Sad Daughter" is a heartfelt poem that expresses a father's love for his daughter. The poem is significant because it shows that love is not something that can be easily defined or controlled. It is something that is felt deeply and cannot be put into words. The poem also shows that sadness is a part of life, and it cannot be easily fixed. The father is there to support his daughter and help her become the person she wants to be. Overall, this poem is a beautiful expression of love and support that will resonate with anyone who has ever felt sad or alone.
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