Eden rock

• “They are waiting for me somewhere beyond eden rock”
• “They are waiting for me somewhere beyond eden rock”

  “They” doesn’t explicitly refer to parents, grief, agony

  “Beyond” speaker believes his parents are in an idyllic place, potentially beyond heaven, admiration

  “Me” contrast “they”, speakers isolation and desire to be with his parents

  “Eden rock” biblical reference, garden of Eden shows how speaker glorifies the memory, memory is perfect, divine, convinced his parents are incomplete without him
• “Her hair the colour of wheat takes on the light”
• “Her hair the colour of wheat takes on the light”

  Metaphor, nurturing quality of the mother

  “Wheat” golden, like the sun radiates warmth

  “Light” admiration, religious imagery, purity, angelic
• “see where the stream path is! Crossing is not as hard as you might think”
• “see where the stream path is! Crossing is not as hard as you might think”

  Sibilance, sense of peace

  soothing, encouraging tone

  Dialogue first introduced excited tone as they guide him

  “Stream” symbol between life and death, allegory for death
• Structure

  Last line separated, mimics crossing, gap between life and death, separation between speaker and parents
• Form


  Half rhyme

  creates gentle rhythm

  Incomplete nature of relationship
• Context

  Causley father died when seven, potentially about him
• Compare 


  Climbing my grandfather, close connection

  Before you were mine, both poets have fond memories of their parents

  Follower, undeniable admiration