Naoise at Four: Plot

Poem - “Naoise at Four”

“Naoise at Four” is one of Boland’s more personal poems, focusing on her relationship with her daughter and reflecting on the complexities of motherhood.
The poem captures a specific moment in time, when Naoise is four years old, and the speaker is reflecting on the transitional stage between infancy and childhood.
Boland uses this innocuous domestic setting to explore profound themes such as the passage of time, memories, and the burden of love.

The poem is named after Boland’s daughter, Naoise, providing an intimate glimpse into their relationship and the emotions of a mother observing her child.
The number “four” in the title could symbolise the four seasons, suggesting the cyclical nature of time and the constant process of change and growth.
Boland uses the poem to consider her role as a mother, reflecting on the conflicting emotions of pride and fear, and the awareness of her child’s individual identity and independence growing as she ages.
The domestic environment featured in the poem, like many of Boland’s works, is a space for the exploration of profound and often uncomfortable truths about human existence.

Motherhood is the central theme of the poem, with Boland reflecting on the joys and challenges of parenthood.
The passage of time is explored through the speaker’s observation of her child’s development and the unfaltering forward march of time.
The poem touches upon the theme of memory and its bittersweetness, considering the preservation of tender moments amidst the relentless forward motion of time.
The intersection of the personal and the universal is a key theme, with Boland using her personal experience to evoke universal emotions and experiences related to parenting.

The poem features Boland’s characteristic use of clear, direct language to convey complex emotions and experiences.
Boland employs haunting imagery and rich metaphors to capture both the physical experience of raising a child and the profound emotional journey of watching that child grow and change.
The poem uses free verse and varies line lengths to give a sense of the natural, free-flowing thoughts of the speaker as she contemplates her child and the passage of time.
Boland’s ability to examine the ordinary and render it extraordinary is emphasised within this poem, demonstrating her powerful explorations of the domestic sphere.