Climbing my grandfather

• “To an earth stained hand. The nails are splintered and give good purchase”
• “To an earth stained hand. The nails are splintered and give good purchase”

  “Earth stained” grandfathers rural work, weathered by the environment, or shows how down to earth and pure he is, juxtaposing the world of materialism the grandson is escaping

  “Hand” affectionate, supportive

  “Good purchase” metaphor, grandfathers wisdom benefits grandson and his climb towards self discovery

  caesura, grandson takes time to absorb the lessons he is learning
• “The skin on his finger is smooth and thick like warm ice”
• “The skin on his finger is smooth and thick like warm ice”

  Oxymoronic simile, grandfather achieved the impossible

  “Skin” sensory description, affectionate

  “Smooth and thick“ juxtaposes craggy texture of mountains (extended metaphor ), sensitive yet resilient

  “Warm” temperature imagery reinforces how reassured the speaker feels when close to his grandfather, grandfather warmer than the world grandson escaped
• “On his arm I discover the glassy ridge of a scar”
• “On his arm I discover the glassy ridge of a scar”

  “Discover” new learning, on a journey of self exploration

  “glassy” glass reflects image on itself, speaker is able to see his own pain and suffering in his grandfathers scars, connection

  ”ridge” mountain imagery, grandfather eroded by his experiences

  ”scar” visual pain, despite how grandson admires his grandfather hes suffered in his life
• Context

  Waterhouse focuses on the environment as shown through the extended metaphor of mountains
• Structure

  Linear, poem follows the climbers progress from the bottom to the summit
• Form

  One single unbroken stanza, child Like Nature

  Blank verse rhyme shows speakers freedom, enjambment imitates climbing motion
• compare


  Follower, idolising a family member

  eden rock, close connection

  Mother any distance, extended metaphor