Catrin (1978)

"Catrin" by Gillian Clarke

Context

Gillian Clarke, a contemporary Welsh poet, explores themes of parenthood, love, and conflict in Catrin. The poem reflects the complex and evolving bond between a mother and daughter, using Clarke's personal experience as a mother to convey universal emotions. Written in the 1970s, the poem captures the tensions between attachment and independence, showing how love and conflict are interwoven in family relationships.

The Poem

I can remember you, child, As I stood in a hot, white Room at the window watching The people and cars taking

Turn at the traffic lights. I can remember you, our first Fierce confrontation, the tight Red rope of love which we both

← Metaphor

Fought over. It was a square Environmental blank, disinfected Of paintings or toys. I wrote All over the walls with my

← Imagery

Words, coloured the clean squares With the wild, tender circles Of our struggle to become Separate. We want, we shouted,

← Symbolism

To be two, to be ourselves. Neither won nor lost the struggle In the glass tank clouded with feelings Which changed us both. Still I am fighting

←Tense

You off, as you stand there With your straight, strong, long Brown hair and your rosy, Defiant glare, bringing up

From the heart's pool that old rope, Tightening about my life, Trailing love and conflict, As you ask may you skate In the dark, for one more hour.

← Contrast

5 quotes + analysis to achieve a grade 9

1. "The tight / Red rope of love which we both / Fought over"

• Analysis: The metaphor of the "red rope of love" symbolises the umbilical cord, representing the physical and emotional bond between mother and child. The "tight" rope suggests both closeness and tension, reflecting the struggle for independence and identity within their relationship.

2. "It was a square / Environmental blank, disinfected / Of paintings or toys"

• Analysis: The imagery of a sterile hospital room contrasts with the raw, emotional intensity of childbirth. This juxtaposition highlights the disconnect between the clinical setting and the deeply personal and transformative experience of motherhood.

3. "Words, coloured the clean squares / With the wild, tender circles / Of our struggle"

• Analysis: The symbolism of "words" and "wild, tender circles" represents the mother's attempt to define and express the chaotic emotions of parenthood. The "circles" evoke the cyclical nature of their relationship—love and conflict repeating over time.

4. "Still I am fighting / You off"

• Analysis: The present tense suggests that the struggle for independence continues even as the daughter grows older. This ongoing conflict reflects the universal tension between a parent's desire to protect and a child's need for autonomy.

5. "Trailing love and conflict, / As you ask may you skate / In the dark, for one more hour."

• Analysis: The contrast between "love and conflict" encapsulates the duality of their relationship. The child's request for more freedom ("skate in the dark") symbolises her growing independence, while the mother's response reflects both love and concern.

Form & Structure Points

• Free Verse: The lack of a rigid structure mirrors the unpredictability and emotional complexity of the mother-daughter relationship.
• Enjambment: The flowing lines reflect the continuity of their connection and the ongoing nature of their struggles.
• Juxtaposition: Clarke contrasts the sterile environment of the hospital with the vibrant emotions of love and conflict, underscoring the depth of their bond.

Themes

1. Parental Love and Conflict: The poem captures the duality of parental love—protective yet suffocating, nurturing yet restrictive. The "red rope of love" symbolises this complex bond.
2. Independence and Identity: The struggle for independence is central to the poem, as the daughter grows and asserts her individuality, challenging the mother's protective instincts.
3. The Passage of Time: Clarke highlights how the mother-daughter relationship evolves over time, with the early struggles of childbirth giving way to the ongoing tensions of adolescence.

Example Paragraph for a Grade 9 Answer

In Catrin, Clarke explores the tension between love and conflict in the parent-child relationship through vivid imagery and metaphor. The "red rope of love" symbolises the physical and emotional bond between mother and child, capturing both their closeness and their struggles for independence. The sterile hospital room, described as "a square / Environmental blank," contrasts with the raw intensity of their emotional connection, emphasising the universal nature of these struggles. The ongoing tension is reflected in "Still I am fighting / You off," suggesting that the mother-daughter conflict persists as the child grows older.