The Orange Bears By Kenneth Patchen - 2419 Words

Childhood is an enjoyable time of life where a child transforms into an adult; a subject that is continually explored through poetry. As a child grows up they need, and subconsciously crave, the guidance of a parent or guardian. Poets relate to the theme of Childhood in many different ways, some with a positive outlook and others more negatively. In the Section C of the Anthology, the three poems I have chosen that discuss this theme are; Half-Past Two by U.A. Fanthorpe, Once upon a Time by Gabriel Okara and A Mother in a Refugee Camp by Chinua Achebe. Three additional poems which also relate to this topic are; The Orange Bears by Kenneth Patchen, The Pennycandystore Beyond the El by Lawrence Ferlinghetti and My Papa’s Waltz by Theodore Roethke. Each poet portrays how a child needs the guidance of an adult figure in their life, to teach them a lesson or to care for them, whether explicitly or implicitly. There are numerous ways in which these six poems compare and contrast; bo th with regard to their content and the stylistic devices that are utilised with relevance to childhood. The title of a poem can bring complexity and a deeper meaning which often foreshadows the messages given in the rest of the poem. The title ‘Once upon a Time’ has special significance as it is an allusion to the beginning of many well-known fairy tales. Fairy tales are usually treasured, well-loved books by young children, implying that the speaker of the poem thinks fondly of their childhood; a