Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"An Exile’s Mother" is a poem written by Emily Lawless. The poem was published in 1890 aThe poem tells the story of a mother's lament for her son who has been forced to leave Ireland due to famine and poverty.

Context: 

The poem was written during a time of great upheaval in Ireland, when many people were emigrating due to poverty and political turmoil. Emily Lawless herself was deeply involved in the Irish nationalist movement and was a strong advocate for the rights of Irish people.

Content: 

The poem is structured as a series of stanzas, each describing a different aspect of the mother's grief and longing. The opening stanza sets the scene of the poem, with the mother describing the famine and poverty that has forced her son to leave. She laments the fact that he has had to leave his home and his family in search of a better life.

The mother's thoughts then turn to her memories of her son as a child, and she longs to see him again and to hold him in her arms. She reflects on the pain of separation and the emptiness she feels without her son by her side.

Throughout the poem, Lawless uses vivid imagery and sensory details to create a sense of emotional depth and resonance. She describes the harsh realities of life in Ireland at the time, as well as the pain and longing that the mother feels for her son.

Form: 

The poem is written in free verse and is structured as a series of musings and reflections from the perspective of the mother. The use of free verse allows Lawless to explore the emotional depths of the mother's experience, and the lack of strict rhyme or meter creates a sense of openness and vulnerability.

Poetic Elements: 

Lawless uses vivid imagery and metaphorical language to convey the emotional intensity of the mother's experience. The use of sensory details such as the "gaunt hills" and "desolate shore" creates a sense of place and atmosphere, while the metaphor of the "broken-hearted throng" captures the pain and suffering of those who have been forced to leave their homes.

Summary: 

"An Exile’s Mother" is a powerful and evocative poem that reflects the experiences of many Irish people during a time of great turmoil and hardship. Lawless's use of vivid imagery and poetic language creates a sense of emotional depth and resonance, and her exploration of the themes of loss, guilt, and exile speaks to the enduring power of human experience.

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...