Writer's Notebook

Morning Song- Slyvia Plath

"Love set you going like a fat gold watch.

The midwife slapped your footsoles, and your bald cry

Took its place among the elements."

This poem is so pure and mesmerizing. Plath uses simple actions or phrases to explain something so dear to her heart. Her word choice in this poem is so significant onto how this scene plays out in a reader's head. This excerpt shows her simple use of words that signifies the birth of a child. It was such a peaceful encounter and the baby's cry is not something sharp or piercing it simply fits. This poem portrays a mother's interpretation of birth and true love for a child. Morning is seen to be the beginning of the day that is very peaceful and serene. And in this poem morning signifies a new life and a new beginning. The way that Plath describes her emotions and scene shows her compassion for her child through actions rather than just words.

The literary technique that really had a crucial role in the poem is the imagery. How Plath describes this surreal moment for a mother makes the poem so realistic and captivating. Her love is so modest in the poem. She describes how she is no more your mother than the clouds, but at the same time she is so enthralled by the new life that she moves to every noise. Plath also uses many words that relate to the morning aspect that she is trying to portray such as "cloud that distills" "dull stars" and "rise like balloons." By making connections with nature she is able to have a very calm tone which really describes a morning and the growing love between a mother and child.