Red Hat Poem

“The Red Hat” by Rachel Hadas is a poem about a mother watching her child grow from a child to a young adult. Although, she is uncomfortable with letting her son walk to school alone, she knows this independence is something that she must allow for him to do for himself. Line 8 of the poem, which states, “Already ties are feelings and not fact,” is a direct statement of how the mother feels towards her son growing older. By the word “already,” she means that he is growing up too soon. However, “Ties” symbolizes the physical bond that the mother and child once shared. Yet, now that her son is more independent, the bond between the parent and child is not physical anymore, but just mental. They have a mental bond through the strong feelings of love between themselves. The

The red hat in the last line of the poem serves as a physical representation of the separation between mother, and child. As the red hat went out of the parents view the parents could no longer watch after their child, leaving the symbolic physical distance between the two.

I chose the poem, “Elena” by Pat Mora as the second poem to contrast with the first. Pat Mora conveys a deep meaning through tone and the speaker. This poem gave me a sad feeling of disconnection as both “The Red Hat” and “Elena” express the disconnection they both face with their children. However, “Elena” expresses the feelings of a mother who has lost a connection with her children. The author says in line 4 that she used to “understand every word they’d say.” This sentimental phrase is filled with emotion and hurt. This is a big part of the communication she had with her children and her being able to connect with them. Then the poem had a shocking abrupt shift in the mood in line 7 “But that was in Mexico.” The author then shifts to her current life.