Explain the poem Ana by Mark Mcwatt?

Answer 1

First of all the poem Ana is written by Mark Mcwatt which suggests that the poem is told from a male and adult perspective and he's telling the story of his daughter Ana. The first stanza is a recollection- he recollects the time, his daughter was innocent and at this age he had alot of pride in his daughter. "Sunlit" is a connotation for happy in the poem and his mood in this very first stanza is pride and contentment. He's proud of the fact, his daughter is like every poet's daughter and he's happy to see his child playing in the garden on her own. Some images of innocence are: flowers, frills, pink dresses, gentlest whims, little gestures and the world of green. The general atmosphere is tranquility and calmness. "It was a calm and quiet mental scene." This line is very important and is in a line by itself because hence forward the mood and atmosphere changes. So the line serves as: 1. A reconnection to reality. 2. A separation between two different individuals(though the same child). 3. A father/ poet hesitation of his child's through disposition. Technically the 2nd stanza shows a contrast from her innocent stage to when she was a baby to now a toddler. He's back to reality, to what he has now(ANA). He also said that when his mind is full of other things she then looks to jump out of the kitchen counter and when she jumps she aims for his throat. And in that split second he has two thoughts : 1. He wishes she would miss and fall. 2. He wishes that she wouldn't fall because it is his daughter. This also shows that he's frustrated of her wildness and he compares her to being a monkey because she's wild and jumps around crazily. " I feel her hard fingers"- She didn't fall but as usual she grabbed his neck and her nails digged into his neck. "In the neutral father flesh of my neck and her barbaric howl of delight stifles my angry shout." For example: When a wolf meets their prey or in other words catch it, they howl so to Ana does when she digs into her fathers skin which shows that she's very brutal. She's screaming at the top of her lungs because of the excitement and even though her father is shouting at her, she fails to hear him because she can't hear his voice when she's screaming. and although he pushes her away, she thinks it is a game and she asks him to do it again. And like a stupid idiot or what you may call him, he does it again. This shows how he's spoiling her and after all the mischief she makes, whatever she says he do.NB: In reality the child is wild, uncontrollable, wicked and mischievous. Its a total contrast of what her father imagined in stanza 1. And the mood of the father in the 2nd stanza is of frustration and annoyance because he seems unable to control her. PLEASE READ THIS: I haven't finished analysing the other 3 stanzas but when I do, I'll publish it. If there's a better analysis of the poem I can come up with I'll also publish it. Hope this helps for the meanwhile.........;)! Goodluck with literature!

Answer 2

the poem Ana speaks of the daughter of a poet. In the first stanza he pictures her as personifying splendor, just as would be expected of any poets daughter. his mental image of himself observing his daughter to be the dearest thing alive provides him with peace of mind which allows him write. In the second stanza however the poet is brought back to reality and sees his daughter for what she really is. A "tom boy". She is said to be leaping off of counters and her little hands stretch out to grad hold of him so she would not fall. To Ana all she sees is a game and she petitions her father to play with her again and so he does. In the third stanza the poet comes to the realization that that is daughter is no princess and totally gives in to her desires; boyish games. But for this very reason it is that the author believes that he is the cause of his unrealized dream. In contrast to the second and third stanzas, Ana, when asleep appears to be so peaceful which keeps the poet's vision of her alive.

Answer 3

In the poem 'Ana', the poets daughter differs than how he pictures her by: