‘Memory ‘by Chris van Wyk

Critically examine the poem’s use of childhood detail, allusion and metaphor to render ‘Memory’ in moving way. That is what makes this such a powerful yet tender poem of childhood?

Critically examine the poem’s use of childhood detail, allusion and metaphor to render ‘Memory’ in moving way. That is what makes this such a powerful yet tender poem of childhood?

The poem ‘Memory’ written by Chris van Wyk (1957-) is a powerful yet tender poem of childhood, it is also disturbing in a sense that it describes a traumatic part of the poets childhood. The title ‘Memory’ invokes feelings such as nostalgia and reminiscence for what has past. The language used in the poem is relatively simple comparing it to that of a four year old child. It also displays the four year old child’s curiousity and innocence through the language used as well as the imagery mentioned. The imagery in the poem can be compared to that of childhood imagination, which is displayed when children play games or pretend, which involves role playing. The first stanza of the poem sets the stage concerning what is to follow in the poem. In stanza one, ‘shuffling about in a flutter of flour’ (line 2) describes the fidgeting and hyper-active movement of the speaker of the poem, who is a four year old boy. Through the eyes of this four year old boy, we are introduced to his younger brother Derek. In line one, Derek is described as dangling on the kitchen chair, from this, deductions can be made that he is so young that his legs do not even reach the kitchen floor. In line five, the word ‘perched’ is used to also describe how Derek is sitting on the chair. In line six, Derek is likened to a bird, which makes the adjective, ‘perched’, most apt as it is mainly used to describe the way birds rest. In line six, “His dummy twitters so he’s a