Poem at Thirty-Nine

Overview:

“Poem at Thirty-Nine” is a touching lyrical poem written by Alice Walker, a renowned American author and activist.
The poem explores the theme of loss and reminiscence, focusing on the speaker’s reflection about her deceased father and how she perceives their relationship now that she has reached the same age he was when he died.
The tone is contemplative and melancholic as the speaker juggles between admiration, longing and understanding of her late father.

Themes:

A dominant theme in “Poem at Thirty-Nine” is that of memory and loss. The poet’s reflection upon the love she had for her father and the shared experiences between them forms the core of the poem.
Walker beautifully captures the essence of the subject’s longing for her father, as she’s drawn back to certain habits or smells which remind her of him.

Walker addresses the theme of identity and self-growth. The process of maturity portrayed in the poem is intertwined with the realisation of inherited traits from the speaker’s father. The speaker comes to a better understanding of herself as she looks back and correlates her identity with her father’s influence.

The close and affectionate father-daughter relationship is another major theme. Walker illuminates the love and respect the daughter felt for her father, and how it is now intermingled with her longing for his physical absence.

Devices and Structure:

Walker uses anaphora, or the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, to emphasise the importance of certain traits and characteristics. This along with antithesis creates a sense of balance and contrast in the poem.

The poem employs metaphoric language, helping to connect objects with the speaker’s feelings. For instance, the use of a cooking metaphor (how growing heated and spicy could be learned) symbolises the father’s passion and persistence.

The poem is composed in a free verse format with several enjambed lines, giving it a conversational feel and allowing the reader to feel more personally connected to the speaker’s musings.

Interpretation:

“Poem at Thirty-Nine” is a testament to the father-daughter bond that extends beyond the mortal world. It is an exploration of emotions, memory, and inheritance.
Walker’s poignant portrait of a daughter looking for her father’s presence in her own self is universal, touching on the power of love and the pain of loss.
Overall, it is a testament to personal growth, understanding, and the continuation of love even in the face of physical absence.