RECIPROCITIES (A state of mutual

dependence)- having the same rights/benefits/

balanced

plural: More than one person is involved. Love/ support being returned
Literal: The young son helps his mother to wind her ball of wool; with this wool, the
mother will knit a jersey just for him, helping him keep warm
Figurative: The mother teaches her young son life lessons based on her moral
values. The son will learn good life lessons, although he is unaware of this at his
young age

Implies a positive and supportive/ loving relationship between the mother and the son.
(one of give-and-take)

title: Summarises message of the poem

FOR MY MOTHER

sub-title: indicates an ODE (a lyric poem containing respectful thoughts and writings for a person.
His mother. My= the speaker of the poem is the poet
Connotation of mother- care
Passed away a long time ago

(PARALLEL BETWEEN HER KNITTING AND HIS WRITING) CHERISHED MEMORY OF

CHILDHOOD AND STRONG BOND.

Remembers many shared lessons and experiences from his mother

lyrical poem/ narrative

first person’s point of view - feelings and heartfelt memory
Free verse of 3 stanzas varying in length ( no specific rhyming pattern)

Stanza 1: then

1. She (mother) gave me skeins of wool - Enjambment: into line 2= linking with
the idea of the looping wool.

skeins: length of thread loosely coiled or knotted. (helped his mother by holding the
skeins of wool to wind it into a small ball so she could do her knitting)

mother: Pennywise, implies that speaker and mother lived in difficult

circumstances. Re-using wool was not common
 gave- firm instruction

2. To hold out (like a priest at Mass), - two hands held wide apart. (Simile- The
poet is ordered to lift his hands up just like a priest would lift his hands up during a
sermon. )

mass- irony/ foreshadowing: young and not ordained yet. But he will later in his life
which illustrates the good moral foundations laid by his mother

Mutual dependence- His mother benefits from the boy who holds the skeins of
cotton for her.

3. With stern ( strict) rubrics not to fidget, while she - Instructions/directions

for the priest to follow as he celebrates Mass ( like when communion is served.
Instructions on how a church service should be conducted)

methaphor (rubrics)
he would be given clear instructions to follow

fidget- To make small twitching movements especially of the hands, triggered by

nervousness or impatience

he would be told not to move

His mother’s precision and attention to detail

4. Wound (past) it (wool) into a ball, unwinding me, - His head would spin
resulting in confusion and wandering of mind (refers back to title)

wound (metaphor) vs unwinding: Contrast

Literal: Unwinding the wool loops from his hands into the ball
Figurative: Having calming/ relaxing influence on him: hints at the dream-like mood
being created/ parenting skills (soothing and comforting him, making him feel safe
and secure)

rhyme: Highlights close bond

literal meaning: Action of turning the loops of wool from her hands into a functional
ball
Not mechanical task but act of care and attention. Bond between mother and child

5. Unravelling my hands and arms, checking- Keeping her son’s behaviour

under her control
unravelling: To unwind

synecdoche- represent the son, implying his mind is wandering

6. My lapses with a gentle tug- lapses- Loss of attention; breaks in his

concentration, when his arms drop down

Oxymoron: two contrasting words: Tug is when the mother pulls at the strand of wool,
bringing the son back to reality but she does so in a kind and gentle manner

tug- To pull at something

She would check his concentration by pulling the strands harder

Enjambment: Emphasises ongoing looping process/ also the son’s random
thoughts

7. When I wandered off through images - wandered off (metaphor)- To wander

is to walk slowly and without direction. Getting lost in his thoughts.

images- Pictures in his imagination (metaphor) creative and poetic mindset sparked by
his tasks

8. Her chat had made, for though - talking to her son in a comfortable way
(acknowledges him: good parenting skills)

contrast: in contrast with the comfortable way she is talking to him

9. She kept the line between us taut - Firm or tight/ under her control

line- metonymy of their relationship= symbolises the connection between the mother
and the speaker as well as the idea of boundaries and discipline

literal: Mother keeps pulling the strand of wool tightly, so that it does not become
tangled and she can roll it easily.
figurative: The mother communicates respectfully and lovingly with her son; laying
a moral foundation for her son.

Full stop- The end of Stanza 1. The end of the first part, rolling the ball of wool.

10. She kept my heart at ease with all her talk. - His mother would put him to
ease if he lost focus/ concentration by talking to him

-He feels comfortable, listening to his mother’s chatting.

Irony- The mother has the situation firmly under her control. But the boy does not feel
unhappy or threatened by it.

nostalgic: Refers to specific events that happened in the past

tone is gentle/ loving and caring: Grateful and appreciative

Internal Rhyme (alliteration/ assonance): Wrapping up/ conclusion of the situation

11. And when her ball compacted grew, - Compressed/ firmly packed together;
the tight wool wound tightly. a compact is also an agreement

grew- refers to the ball of wool, positive image: The mother’s ball pf wool is tight and
large; the process seems to have been to her advantage.

NB= wool is also used as an extended metaphor for the relationship between the two

And- used to link the stanzas (conjunction)

12. And my few strands fell limp away, - Threads, lengths or pieces of wool.

Task is almost done. Last few strands left

limp- no tension on the thread

away: negative, seems as though he has been disadvantaged in the process. Too short
to pull tight now.

13. I knew (certainty and conviction/insight) there was no loss, for she -
understands that he will RECEIVE and the time with his mother will be to his
advantage. Shaping him into an adult well-adapted and able to take on life

14. Would knit it back again to fit me perfectly. (tailored specifically to the
speaker’s needs). -

Stories and teachings evolve to suit the emotional and spiritual needs of her
maturing son. Good parenting
knit it back again- unraveling the original jersey is FUNCTIONAL and at the
newly created jersey will be BETTER as it will not be too small for the speaker, but
perfect fit for the growing young man.
 Prime example of reciprocity.

The ball of firm strong wool grew bigger and bigger. It is a sign that there was no
loss and they had enough for his mother to knit him something
Mutual dependence: The boy also benefits from his mother’s knitting
Metaphor: The image of the mother compacting the ball of wool and then knitting it
back together into something for her son. (repair/ renewal)

Stanza 3: Now (adult) extended metaphor

15. But richer still, - Contrast- Transition/ link to his childhood/ from childhood to
adulthood (link between past and present) Conjunctions: Continuous thread

Richer and still: Deeper and still

Irony: Appreciates his mother’s care and love during his childhood, BUT as an adult
he understands that her MEMORY is more worthy- he sees it as making him
‘richer’ emotionally. the word BUT is used to show transition or the link his
childhood has to his adulthood

tone: sentimental and appreciative tone

16. I see today these lines are drawn out from me

present tense
verses of poetry compared to line of wool
drawn out: compelled to write the ode to his mother, in the same way his
mother pulled the loops of wool from his hand and arms to wind into a
ball. metaphor: Her love, care and endurance
enjambment: continuous influence of his mother and her lasting memory

17. To knit through this faltering verse - Imperfect, not sure of what to do;
shake or weak

to: The poem is a way of knitting the thread of memory back together. which time has
pulled away from his consciousness

knit: Creative process of creating a jersey from a strand of wool is compared to the
words written into a meaningful poem.

verse: biblical reference as well as poetic

faltering: He realises his poems will never be as perfect as his mother’s knitting

18. A thread of memory - His writing is like a thread that connects him to his
mother

extended metaphor: Compares the strand of wool to his memory honouring his
mother.
Enjambment: Emphasises flowing memory of his mother which is still with the
speaker. It is compared to the strand of wool she used to knit his new jersey
Her memory still guides him

19. Time has pulled away from consciousness.- Brought from memory to
awareness. He remembers through the act of writing (Personification- Time is
personified as a person who has pulled a thread of memory away from
consciousness.)

he has forgotten his childhood memory a little. His memory has been pulled away,
just as a strand of wool used to be pulled away from him.
Writing this ODE to his mother, has brought her memory back and knit it into his
consciousness and so finally ‘reciprocating’ her love

NOSTALGIA AND REFLECTION

Memories are woven and serve as a thread that connects them together.

themes:

Nostalgia
Love and gratitude
Motherhood (central theme)
Mutual dependence
Memory