Walking Away Quotes

separation, parental worry, acceptance/natural

satellite (separation)

like a satellite wrenched from orbit

• this simile of a satellite could show how at first the poet found this separation a big deal and unnatural

• violent verb “wrenched” helps demonstrate the pain and suddenness of the separation, it seems almost premature

• an orbit almost acts a a shield of protection from the dangerous abyss, things in orbit are always close to what they orbit. It also demonstrates how important a parent is to a child, their close connection is a massive focus in their early life. The son’s life has revolved around him

figure (parental worry+separation)

hesitant figure, eddying away

• noun ‘figure’ instead of a person shows how distant the sons progressing to be, he’s so far that the father cannot even recognise him anymore, and that makes the poet feel uneasy

• ‘eddying away’ shows how he’s slowly drifting away and the separation grows bigger, and it’s painful to have to sit and watch this process unfold

wilderness (parental worry)

into a wilderness

• the wilderness could represent the harsh nature of the world it’s full of unknown dangers which are hidden everywhere

• the ambiguous tone helps present the father’s worry for his son, he wants to be able to protect his son but he can’t

winged seed (acceptance/natural+separation)

like a winged seed loosened from its parent stem

• the simile of a plant could be interpreted as the poet accepting how natural this separation is. It has to happen for the child’s benefit.

• the verb ‘loosened’ contrasts the verb ‘wrenched’ earlier on in the poem, which creates a sense of acceptance, as the author pain settles and realises how natural this process is

• the simile of a plant also contrasts to the massive satellite from earlier, this also shows how gradually the authors worries grow smaller and lean towards acceptance

• the imagery of the parent as a stem, creates an image of the parent keeping the child grounded and safe, he’s a source of support for the child

love (acceptance)

love is proved in the letting go

• the verb ‘proved’ shows how his parental love over his son has been challenged and now confirmed as he allows his son to walk away from him into adulthood and the challenges he will face without his father

• this being the last sentence of the poem leaves the impression that the author has now fully accepted being separated from his son