when the bird leaves the nest
One of the most awesome and bittersweet joys in life is being a parent. From the day of conception, parents are responsible for the growth and development of their children. The sweet part of being a parent is the strong emotional connection that one forms with his/ her child, and the lasting impression that a parent has on a child. The bitter part of being a parent, however, is coming to terms with a child's independence. Though every child must someday branch out and find his or her own way, the idea of letting go is one of the most difficult and painful matters that a parent can ever experience. It is, however, inevitable. Children begin life as innocent little creatures ready to be molded by their parents and other outside influences; then they develop into complex individuals with their own minds, desires, and styles. In his poem, "The Writer," Richard Wilbur explores a parent's reaction to the reality of his/her child's independence. Naomi Long Madgett, in her poem, "Offspring," also exposes the veracity of a parent coming to terms with the idea that her daughter is no longer a child, but an autonomous young woman. Although both poems demonstrate the harsh realities of a child's c
Face slanted upward toward a threatening sky, (10-14) In her poem, "Offspring," Madgett illustrates a much different type of relationship between parent and child. The parent in this work does not seem as close to her daughter as the parent in "The Writer." The gender of the parent is not mentioned in this poem either; however, the content and situation of this poem suggest that the speaker is a mother. Mothers tend to be more directly involved in their children's' lives. Even after their children reach adulthood, mothers instinctively maintain their positions, and are more reluctant to let go. The speaker says things like: "I tried to tell her: . . ." (1) and "I wanted to say.. " (7), suggesting that the parent still wants to maintain her parental status. Moreover, the parent in this poem is unyielding in her pursuit to make her daughter become what she will have her to become:
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1625
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)
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