Grandfather (Mahon) - LC English

Background of the poem

An affectionate sonnet based on Mahon’s grandfather

He has withdrawn from the working world - could signal his “rebirth” into the world of retirement

They brought him in on a stretcher from the world

Characterisation of the grandfather - despite being wounded he maintains his humour

Wounded by humorous

Imagery of his work - very specific to that generation

Boiler-rooms, row upon row of gantries

Compares retirement to his childhood whilst also revealing to us that the grandfather is very closed off

The landscape of a childhood only he can recapture

Glimpse of grandfathers vitality

Even on cold mornings he is up at six

Which lines portray a childish lack of conformity

• Discreetly up to no good

• Banging around the house

• Never there when you call

Sense of feeling like a burden/helpless similar to a child

Banging around the house like a four year old

Colloquial Belfast phrase - clever alliteration (simile?)

As cute as they come

Could refer to:

• shouldering the responsibility of maintaining a way of life that’s vanishing in the modern world

• Symbolic attempt to avoid the future/ the reality that death is imminent

His shrewd eyes bolt the door and set the clock against the future

Foreshadowing/double entendre

Then his light goes out

Reference to how closed off he is? Men of this generation refused to speak up about mental health and he could have chosen to occupy himself rather than seeking the support of his family

Nothing escapes him, he escapes us all