I Have My Fathers Voice
Christopher Van Wyk - narrative free verse
When I walk into a room - nostalgic comical tone.
*although the father's tone is
angry, the poem itself is not
present tense
where my father has just been
Ithefill speaker
the sameacknowledges
spaces he did literally and figuratively
the similarities between him and his father.
from the elbows on the table
The 2 men share the same mannerisms.
to the head thrown back
and when we laugh we aim theoud, guffaw
raucous noise; to laugh loudly
at the same space in the air.
Before anybody has told me this I know
emphasises that they have an understanding of one another; a bond / connection
because I see myself through my father's eyes.
his reflection engages the senses of sound, sight and touch. It is a visceral
response to the memories
creates a sense of intimacy
paste tense: reminiscing about his childhood
When I was a pigeon-toed boy
light-hearted tone; meant to create humor colloquial register
disorganised structure
my father used his voice reinforces the idea of
list of commands
memories or being reminiscent.
creates a sense of fragmented
to send me to bed nostalgic tone memories
to run and buy the newspaper
every day chores
tospeaker
scribbleportrays
my wayhimself
throughas matric.
an awkward child with mediocre marks.
(before he found his love for writing)
He also used his voice for harsher things: listing
reflective tone
toloud;bluster when we made a noise
but more bark than bite
when the kitchen wasn't cleaned after supper
father wanted obedient children, he is reacting to more serious events
when I was out too late.
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