The Mother
by Gwendolyn Brooks
Abortions will not let you forget.
You remember the children you got that you did not get,
The damp small pulps with a little or with no hair,
The singers and workers that never handled the air.
You will never neglect or beat
Them, or silence or buy with a sweet.
You will never wind up the sucking thumb
Or scuttle off ghosts that come.
You will never leave them, controlling your luscious sigh,
Return for a snack of them, with a gobbling mother eye.I have heard in the voices of the wind the voices of my dim killed children.
I have contracted; I have eased
My dim dears at the breasts they could never suck.
I have said, ‘Sweets, if I sinned, if I seized’
Your luck
And your lives from your unfinished reach,
If I stole your births and your names,
Your straight baby tears and your games,
Your stilted or lovely loves, your tumults, your marriages, aches, and your deaths,
If I poisoned the beginnings of your breaths.
Believe that even in my deliberateness I was not deliberate.
Though why should I whine,
Whine that the crime was other than mine.Since anyhow you are dead.
Or rather, or instead,
You were never made.
But that too, I am afraid,
Is faulty: oh, what shall I say, how is the truth to be said?
You were born, you had body, you died.
It is just that you never giggled or planned or cried.Believe me, I loved you all.
Believe me, I knew you, though faintly, and I loved, I loved you all.
Summary of “The Mother”
- A Poem of Loss and Remembrance: Gwendolyn Brooks’s “The Mother” is a powerful and deeply moving exploration of the emotional and psychological aftermath of abortion. The poem is not a political statement, but a raw, intimate portrayal of a mother’s grief and lingering connection to the children she never knew.
- Central Idea: The poem centers on the enduring memory of lost children and the complex feelings of a mother grappling with the consequences of her choices. It is a lament for unrealized potential and a recognition of the profound impact of abortion on a woman’s life.
- Key Themes: “The Mother” delves into themes of loss, guilt, regret, and the enduring power of maternal love. It explores the paradox of mourning for something that never fully existed, and the struggle to reconcile the past with the present.
Analysis of “The Mother”
Understanding the Poem’s Structure and Voice
The poem unfolds as a direct address from a mother to her aborted children. This intimate and personal voice is crucial to understanding the poem’s emotional weight. The speaker doesn’t offer excuses or justifications, but rather acknowledges the persistent presence of her lost children in her thoughts and feelings. The poem’s structure, shifting between concrete imagery and abstract reflection, mirrors the mother’s own fluctuating emotions.
In-Depth Examination of Poetic Devices
Imagery and Symbolism
Brooks masterfully employs imagery to create a visceral and haunting experience for the reader. The opening lines, “Abortions will not let you forget…The damp small pulps with a little or with no hair,” are particularly striking. This graphic imagery evokes a sense of physical loss and the fragility of life. The “damp small pulps” aren’t merely biological descriptions; they symbolize unrealized potential, dreams cut short, and the absence of individuality. The phrase “gobbling mother eye” is disturbing, suggesting a desperate, almost predatory, need to nurture even in absence.
Consider the line, “I have eased my dim dears at the breasts they could never suck.” The image of the mother offering her breast to children who can never nurse is heartbreaking, representing a fundamental maternal instinct thwarted. This isn’t simply about physical nourishment; it’s about the nurturing and connection that never happened.
Metaphor and Personification
The poem is rich with metaphorical language. The “voices of the wind” are personified as carrying the voices of the lost children, creating a sense of their continued presence in the natural world. This suggests that even in death, or rather, in non-existence, the children are not entirely gone.
The phrase “dim dears” is a poignant metaphor for the fading memories of the children. It suggests a sense of sorrow and the struggle to keep their memory alive.
Enjambment and Rhythm
Brooks uses enjambment – the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line to the next – to create a flowing, conversational rhythm. This mirrors the stream of consciousness of the mother, allowing her thoughts and feelings to unfold naturally. Notice how the lines “You will never neglect or beat / them, or silence or buy with a sweet,” flow seamlessly into one another, emphasizing the mother’s yearning to care for her children.
Repetition and Anaphora
The repetition of “Believe me, I loved you all” in the final stanza is particularly powerful. It functions as a desperate plea for understanding and forgiveness. The anaphora (repetition at the beginning of successive clauses) emphasizes the depth and sincerity of the mother’s love.
Exploring Key Lines and Their Significance
“You were never made. / But that too, I am afraid, / Is faulty.”
These lines represent the central paradox of the poem. The mother struggles to reconcile the fact that her children never existed with the undeniable reality of her grief and connection to them. The statement that even the idea of them not being made is “faulty” suggests that their existence, at least in the mother’s mind and heart, is very real.
“Though why should I whine, / Whine that the crime was other than mine?”
This is a moment of brutal self-awareness. The mother acknowledges her responsibility for her choices and refuses to deflect blame. This honesty is painful but ultimately empowering.
“It is just that you never giggled or planned or cried.”
This final, heartbreaking line encapsulates the tragedy of the poem. It highlights the absence of those fundamental human experiences that the children were denied. It’s a poignant reminder of what was lost, and a testament to the enduring power of maternal love.
Literary and Poetic Devices in Detail
| Device | Example from “The Mother” | Effect |
| Imagery | “The damp small pulps with a little or with no hair” | Creates a vivid and haunting visual image, evoking a sense of loss and fragility. |
| Metaphor | “Voices of the wind” representing the voices of the children | Suggests the continuing presence of the lost children and their connection to the natural world. |
| Personification | Giving human qualities to the wind | Adds emotional depth and suggests the children’s ongoing presence. |
| Enjambment | “You will never neglect or beat / them, or silence or buy with a sweet.” | Creates a flowing rhythm and emphasizes the speaker’s yearning. |
| Anaphora | Repetition of “Believe me, I loved you all.” | Reinforces the depth of the mother’s love and her plea for understanding. |
| Symbolism | The absent giggles, plans, and cries | Represent the unrealized potential and lost experiences of the children. |
“The Mother” is a challenging but ultimately rewarding poem. It is a powerful exploration of grief, regret, and the enduring bond between a mother and her children. By carefully analyzing the poem’s language, imagery, and structure, we can gain a deeper understanding of its emotional complexity and its enduring relevance.