Mother of the Groom
by Patrick MacLeod
What she remembers
Is his glistening back
In the bath, his small boots
In the ring of boots at her feet.Hands in her empty lap,
She hears a daughter welcomed.
It’s as if he kicked when lifted
And slipped her soapy hold.Once soap would ease off
The wedding ring
That’s bedded forever now
In her clapping hand.
Summary of Mother of the Groom
- Popularity of “Mother of the Groom”: Patrick MacLeod’s “Mother of the Groom” is a deeply compassionate and evocative poem. It delicately portrays a mother’s complex emotions on her son’s wedding day, a moment brimming with joy and a touch of melancholy. The poem’s power lies in its ability to capture the universal experience of parental love and the bittersweet transition as a child embarks on a new life.
- “Mother of the Groom” as a Reflection of Parental Love: This poem is a tender exploration of a mother’s heart as her son prepares to marry. Through fragmented memories, the mother revisits snapshots of his childhood—the image of his “glistening back” in the bath, the endearing sight of his “small boots” amidst the family’s footwear. These recollections highlight not just her love, but also a subtle awareness of time’s passage. The arrival of the daughter‑in‑law is met with a welcoming gesture—“clapping hand”—but it’s layered with the echo of a son slipping from her “soapy hold,” symbolizing the natural yet poignant shift in their relationship.
- Major Themes in “Mother of the Groom”: The central themes woven throughout the poem are marriage, parental love, and the weight of memory. The poem beautifully captures the intricate emotions that accompany a son’s wedding—a blend of happiness for his future and a quiet ache for the past. The mother’s memories aren’t presented as purely nostalgic; they’re imbued with a sense of loss and the realization that her role in her son’s life is evolving. There is a complex mix of welcoming the new while gently holding onto the past, a feeling many parents experience during such significant life events.
Analysis of Literary Devices Used in Mother of the Groom
Patrick MacLeod masterfully employs a variety of literary devices in “Mother of the Groom” to create a poem rich in emotion and imagery. These techniques elevate the poem beyond a simple description of a mother’s feelings, allowing readers to deeply connect with the experience.
- Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds within words creates a musical quality and emphasizes certain emotions. Notice the repetition of the short “i” sound in “Is his glistening back,” subtly connecting these images and drawing attention to the vibrancy of the memory.
- Anaphora: The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. Though not extensive, the echoing of “In the” in the opening stanza – “In the bath, his small boots / In the ring of boots at her feet” – creates a rhythmic effect and emphasizes the mother’s grounding in these specific, visual memories.
- Consonance: The repetition of consonant sounds creates a sense of harmony and cohesion. Consider the repeated “h” sound in “She hears a daughter welcomed.” This subtle consonance adds to the poem’s gentle, flowing quality.
- Enjambment: This technique, where a phrase or sentence continues from one line to the next without punctuation, creates a sense of fluidity and mimics the flow of thoughts and memories. The lines “Once soap would ease off / The wedding ring” demonstrate this beautifully, drawing the reader onward and creating a subtle build‑up of meaning.
- Imagery: MacLeod excels at creating vivid images that appeal to the senses. Phrases such as “In the ring of boots at her feet,” “It’s as if he kicked when lifted,” and “She hears a daughter welcomed” paint a clear picture in the reader’s mind, enhancing the emotional impact of the poem.
- Irony: A subtle layer of irony exists in the second stanza. While the mother “hears a daughter welcomed,” her “empty lap” suggests a feeling of emptiness or loss. This juxtaposition highlights the bittersweet nature of her emotions—joy for her son’s happiness mixed with a sense of his growing independence.
- Simile: The line “It’s as if he kicked when lifted” functions as a simile, comparing the son’s actions to a physical reaction, suggesting a natural resistance to letting go, even in infancy. It reinforces the idea that growth and change are inherent parts of life.
- Symbolism: The “ring” in the final stanza carries symbolic weight. Beyond its literal representation of marriage, it represents commitment, continuity, and the enduring nature of family bonds. The fact that it is “bedded forever now / In her clapping hand” suggests her acceptance of this new relationship and her blessing for her son’s future.
Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in Mother of the Groom
In addition to literary devices, MacLeod skillfully utilizes poetic devices to shape the poem’s form and meaning. These techniques contribute to its overall artistry and emotional resonance.
- Free Verse: “Mother of the Groom” is a free‑verse poem, meaning it does not adhere to a strict rhyme scheme or metrical pattern. This allows the poet to create a natural, conversational rhythm that mirrors the flow of thought and memory.
- Quatrain: Each stanza in the poem consists of four lines—a quatrain. This traditional form provides a sense of structure and balance while still allowing for the freedom of free verse.
- Stanza: The poem is divided into three stanzas, each focusing on a different aspect of the mother’s reflections. This arrangement creates a sense of progression, moving from specific childhood memories to a broader acceptance of the present moment.
Quotes to be Used
The following lines are particularly impactful and useful when discussing the themes of parental love and the passage of time.
What she remembers
Is his glistening back
In the bath, his small boots
In the ring of boots at her feet.
This opening stanza immediately establishes the poem’s focus on cherished memories and the sensory details that make them so vivid.