A Spell for Forgetting a Father: Poet & Context

“A Spell for Forgetting a Father” is a powerful poem by Jacob Sam-La Rose that explores complex themes of memory, family, and identity.

The poem is an emotional journey of the poet trying to forget his father, earning its title “A Spell for Forgetting a Father”.
Given the style and structure of the poem, we can make an educated guess that it is likely a response to Sam-La Rose’s own troubled relationship with his father.
It explores the concept of fatherhood, the pain of abandonment, and the struggle of moving on from past memories.
Through the metaphor of magic, the poem emphasises the difficulty in forgetting a person who has had a deep-seated effect on one’s life.

Memory is invoked as a powerful and inescapable force in one’s life, shaping their identity and perception of the world.
The poet wrestles with the harsh reality that certain memories, despite their pain, are embedded so deeply that they can never be entirely forgotten, and eventually shape a significant part of one’s identity.
The use of magic and spells represents the desperate attempt to control or reshape these memories.

The tense rhythm and free verse style reflects the poet’s turmoil and emotional struggle to forget his father.
By deeply analysing this poem, we gain insights into Sam-La Rose’s personal context and the experiences that have shaped his work. Whether based on real-life events or not, the intense emotion displayed in “A Spell for Forgetting a Father” gives us the impression of personal pain and battle with memories.
The poem resonates strongly with anyone who has experienced familial troubles, parental abandonment, or heart-wrenching memory.

Sam-La Rose’s choice of sharp, clear language reflects the raw and hauntingly honest nature of the poet’s emotions.
The free verse style is utilised to convey the poet’s unrestricted stream of consciousness.
The use of enjambment breaks the sentence or thought from one line to the next, facilitating the flow and adding to the overall rhythm and momentum.
Magic and spells create a symbolic framework, showing both the desperate desire to erase painful memories and the futility of such attempts.