Poetry Analysis

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to my nine year old self

Original Poetry

Translation

to my nine year old self

You need to forgive me. Don't look so shocked,

helen dunmore

confused, and eager to leave

You must forgive me. Don't look so surprised,

balancing on your hands or on the tightrope

perplexed , and eager to be gone

You'd rather run than walk, rather climb than run

balancing on your hands or on the tightrope

rather jump from a height than anything else.

You would rather run than walk, rather climb than run

rather leap from a height than anything.

I have spoiled this body we once shared.

I've damaged this body we used to share.

Look at the scars, and watch the way I move,

Look at the scars, and see how I move,

careful of a bad back or a bruised foot.

careful of a sore back or a hurt foot.

Do you remember how, three minutes after waking

we'd jump straight out of the ground floor window

we'd jump right out of the ground floor window

into the summer morning

That dream we had, no doubt it's as fresh in your mind

That dream we had, surely it's as clear in your mind

as the white paper to write it on.

as the blank paper to write it on.

We made a start, but something else came up -

We started it, but something else came up -

a baby vole, or a bag of sherbet lemons -

and besides that summer of ambition

created an ice-lolly factory, a wasp trap

made an ice-lolly factory, a wasp trap

and a den by a cesspit

and a hideout by a cesspit

I'd like to say we could be friends

but the truth is we have nothing in common

beyond a few shared years. I won't keep you then.

except a few shared years. I won't keep you then.

Time to pick rosehips for tuppence a pound,

time to hide down scared lanes

from men in cars after girl-children

or to lunge out over the water

or to swing out over the water

on the rope that swings from that tree

on the rope that hangs from that tree

long buried in housing -

But no, I shan't cloud your morning. God knows

But no, I won't spoil your morning. God knows

I have fears enough for us both -

I have enough fears for both of us -

I leave you in an ecstasy of concentration

I leave you deeply focused

slowly peeling a ripe scab from your knee

to taste it on your tongue.

Explanation

Helen Dunmore's poem 'To My Nine-Year-Old Self' is a poignant reflection on the passage of time and the changes that come with growing older. The speaker addresses her younger self with a mixture of nostalgia, regret, and tenderness. She acknowledges the carefree and adventurous spirit of her nine-year-old self, contrasting it with her current cautious and scarred body. The poem explores themes of innocence, loss, and the inevitable transformation of the body and spirit over time. The speaker reminisces about the shared dreams and ambitions of her childhood, only to realize that they have drifted apart with age. The poem's imagery vividly captures the essence of childhood, with references to playful activities and imaginative pursuits. Ultimately, the speaker accepts that she and her younger self have little in common beyond a few shared years, and she lets go of the past, leaving her younger self to enjoy the simple pleasures of childhood. The poem is written in free verse, allowing for a conversational and introspective tone that enhances the emotional depth of the piece.

Word Dictionary10

Word	In English	Plain (English)	Pron.
perplexed	confused	unable to understand something clearly	per-plexed
tightrope	a rope to walk on	a rope or wire stretched tightly for acrobatics	tight-rope
scarred	marked with scars	having marks from old wounds	scarred
vole	a small rodent	a small animal similar to a mouse	vole
sherbet	sweet powder	a sweet flavored powder	sher-bet
cesspit	waste pit	a pit for waste or sewage	cess-pit
rosehips	fruit of a rose	small red fruits from a rose plant	rose-hips
tuppence	two pennies	a small amount of money, two pence	tup-pence
lunge	sudden forward movement	a quick forward movement	lunge
ecstasy	intense joy	a state of overwhelming happiness	ec-sta-sy

Poet & Context

PoetHelen Dunmore

EraContemporary

Helen Dunmore was a British poet, novelist, and short story writer known for her novels such as 'Zennor in Darkness' and 'The Siege'. She won several prestigious awards including the Orange Prize for Fiction and the Costa Book Award.

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When2007

WhyThe poem reflects on the passage of time and the changes that come with aging. It is a nostalgic and introspective piece where the poet addresses her younger self, exploring themes of innocence, loss, and the inevitable transformation of the body and spirit over time.

FormFree verse

Themes & More

Themes

nostalgiainnocenceagingregret

Literary devices

imagery: vivid descriptions of childhood activitiescontrast: between the carefree child and the cautious adultmetaphor: body as a shared entity between past and presenttone: nostalgic and reflective