Little Boy Crying Poem Summary by Mervyn Morris and Line by Line Explanation

Little Boy Crying Poem Summary by Mervyn Morris and Line by Line Explanation, Mervyn Morris’s poem “Little Boy Crying” is a poignant portrayal of a father-son relationship. It explores the complexities of this relationship through the lens of a father’s attempt to discipline his son. The poem captures the father’s frustration and the son’s innocent tears, highlighting the clash between love and discipline. Through vivid imagery and emotional depth, Morris delves into the nuances of parental love, authority, and the pain of childhood.

Little Boy Crying Poem Summary by Mervyn Morris and Line by Line Explanation

Summary:

In “Little Boy Crying,” Morris vividly depicts a moment between a father and his son. The father has punished his son for disobedience, and now the little boy stands crying, tears streaming down his face. The father, though he knows he must discipline his son, is deeply affected by the sight of his child’s tears. The poem delves into the conflicting emotions of both father and son, exploring the themes of love, discipline, and the pain of growing up.

Line-by-line Explanation:

1. “Your mouth contorting in brief spite and hurt,”
   • The poem opens with an image of the little boy’s mouth twisting in pain and anger as he cries.
2. “Your laughter metamorphosed into howls,”
   • The boy’s laughter has turned into loud cries.
3. “Your frame so recently relaxed now tight”
   • The boy’s body, which was relaxed just moments ago, is now tense with crying and distress.
4. “With three-year-old frustration, your bright eyes
5. Swimming tears, splashing your bare feet,”
   • The boy, frustrated and upset, is crying so much that tears are falling down and splashing on his bare feet.
6. “You stand there angling for a moment’s hint
7. Of guilt or sorrow for his quick offence
8. And then with added insult – and intent
9. You say you do not love him any more,”
   • The little boy is hoping to see some sign of guilt or sorrow from his father for punishing him, but instead, his father tells him that he doesn’t love him anymore, adding insult to injury.
10. “And I, seeing you taken up with tears
11. And hearing you ask again, and all the while
12. Within me, boy, affection grows and clears
13. Like water from a mossy well – this coil
14. Of love that, trampled down, will spring and flow
15. Through jungle back to light,”
    • The father, seeing his son crying and begging for his love, feels a surge of affection for him. He compares this affection to water springing from a well, even if it has been trampled down. This love will always find its way back to the surface.
16. “As though he were an islet, with the breeze
17. Blooming and dispersing bright green under
18. The water’s face, whose subterranean
19. Presence finds no refuge in the sea,”
    • The father imagines his son as an islet, a small island, with his love for him being the bright green life that grows on it. Even though this love may be submerged temporarily, it will never be lost completely.
20. “But you are flushed with pleasure,
21. Fogged with tears,
22. You believe yourself
23. Loved once more,”
    • The boy, despite being upset and crying, feels happy and relieved to believe that his father loves him again.
24. “Fool, you are crossed with sorrow;
25. This child, who was your grief,
26. Is your delight,”
    • The father recognizes that it is he who is feeling sorrow, not the child. Despite being the cause of his grief, his son is still his greatest joy.
27. “And would you not
28. His sadness to spare,
29. Look at the sorrow
30. He had to bear?”
    • The father questions whether he should not spare his son from sadness, considering the sorrow the child had to endure because of his actions.

Themes:

1. Parental Love and Discipline: The poem explores the complex dynamics between a father and his son. While the father knows he must discipline his son for his disobedience, he is deeply affected by the sight of his child’s tears. The poem reflects the father’s struggle between love and discipline.
2. Innocence and Childhood: Through the portrayal of the little boy’s tears, the poem captures the innocence and vulnerability of childhood. The father’s love for his son is evident in his struggle to discipline him while also being deeply affected by his tears.
3. Guilt and Redemption: The father experiences a moment of guilt when he sees his son crying, realizing the extent of his sorrow. However, he is also redeemed by his love for his son, which ultimately triumphs over his momentary anger and frustration.
4. Emotional Complexity: The poem delves into the emotional complexity of the father-son relationship, highlighting the conflicting emotions of love, guilt, and frustration experienced by both father and son.
5. The Pain of Growing Up: The poem captures the pain and confusion of growing up, as the little boy learns that his actions have consequences and experiences the pain of being disciplined by his father.

Little Boy Crying Poem Summary by Mervyn Morris and Line by Line Explanation In conclusion, “Little Boy Crying” by Mervyn Morris is a powerful exploration of the complexities of the father-son relationship. Through vivid imagery and emotional depth, the poem captures the conflicting emotions of love, discipline, and the pain of childhood. Morris delves into the nuances of parental love, authority, and the pain of growing up, leaving readers with a poignant portrayal of the bond between father and son.