The Albatross Poem Analysis

The Albatross- By Kate Bass. In this poem, the author describes a grueling process of preparing for someone’s return. As the poem goes on, it shows the lack of enthusiasm, or even dread, that the author feels. The theme of this poem could be expressed in many different ways, but my take is that things that must happen are not always enjoyable. Both the child and author do not like being visited by said person, but they know it must happen. This poem speaks to me. I interpreted this not as a poem, but as a story. The story of a family that was once together. Unbreakable. A real family, dare I say. In the third stanza, there is a line that justifies this.”I sit and she fingers the beads until you speak- in a voice that no longer seems familiar, only strange.” This means that in the past, they were all happier and more comfortable to be around each other.

I swing her, roll her in my arms until she forgets.” The necklace is a sign to the child. When she sees that necklace, she knows that someone is coming home. Seemingly, she is not happy about it. The turn of the poem would be the following line: “I turn as our child tugs at the string.-I hear a snap and a sound like falling rain.” The poem transitions from a melancholy tone, to an alert tone. The subject also changes from the visitation of said person to the necklace suddenly, with no transition. This puts the necklace under the spotlight and shows how important it is to this poem. The Albatross- this title seems odd at first. An albatross is a word used commonly to express a psychological burden that feels as if it is a curse. This is in relation to the poem. This is so because when said person comes home, it is evident that neither parties enjoy the