The Father Figure in The Poem Boomerang and Second Sight

Introduction

The following two poems that will be analyzed in this paper provides a different and individual perspective of a relationship between adult figures and children, in particular between a father figure and a child. In the poem “Boomerang”, it is told from a child’s perspective about his/her father figure about the joys and fears of childhood and in the poem, “Second Sight”, it is told from the stepfather’s perspective about his stepdaughter and the memories that they have shared together as she has grown up. Both these poems convey a different insight about a father figure and child relationship.

An Analysis of the Father Figure in the poem “Boomerang”

In the first poem “Boomerang”, it expresses the time spent with the adults you love during childhood. In the second poem, “Second Sight”, it depicts the memories between the father figure and stepdaughter as death approaches both adult figures in her life, specifically the stepfather himself, towards the end of the poem. Both poems convey the common theme of death as well as youth and age. The way that the author uses literary elements in each poem, it conveys a different message in a similar way about a relationship between a child and their parent figure, which an individual can draw connections from.

In the poem “Boomerang”, you view the series of events play out in the eyes of the child. It depicts this sense of magical feeling about the parent figure as well as the fear of the unknown as the boomerang represents this unknowingness. The child speaker is mesmerized by the boomerang that was sent in the air as the child described it to be “soaring, pushing the sky to the horizon” (Sleigh, 2) and “a black slash on the sun” (Sleigh, 3).

As the boomerang was on its way down, it became larger and larger and as this happens the child begins to feel fear for the adult and themself. “Would it hit him, would he die—and you ducked down” (Sleigh, 6). The child displays more fear in the following lines such as “terrified, clinging to his thigh, its deathspin” (Sleigh, 7). As the adult grabs and catches the boomerang, there is a sense of relief that the child once feared and now that fear has been taken away.

“How you loved that rush of fear, both wanting and not wanting him to feel how hard you clung”, (Sleigh 9-11). In these lines, it indicates that the child’s fear was internalized within and did not want the adult to know that they were scared as the adult did not seem to fear curiosity of the unknown. As time is spent with this adult figure, the child has a sense of protection as well as knowing that the adult was there during the times of fear and the unknown towards the end of the poem.

The adult figure of this poem is portrayed as a protector for the child and this is where the sense of magicalness comes from. This adult figure is always there and there is a sense of endearment between the two of them. The parent figure also serves as a teacher to the child as the child recalls these memories and times spent with them. The connection that one can pull from this poem is that it reminds you of your childhood and soon you will be the adult doing the same things that your adult figures did for you when you were a child.

An Analysis of the Father Figure in the poem “Second Sight”

In the poem “Second Sight”, the adult figure in the child’s life is a stepfather. “In my fantasy of fatherhood, in which I’m your real father, not just the almost dad arriving through random channels of divorce”, (Sleigh, 1-3). This adult figure wants the child to know that although they are not related biologically, he still wants her to view him as a father to her and not just a person to fill in a void or replace her real father.

As the father figure continues to speak, it seems as if the stepdaughter and him share a close relationship as he notes that they do not lie to each other as well as having that daughter and father dynamic where they do tend to have disagreements, but in the end they come back together. “If I’m still alive you’ll still look at me with that same wary expectancy, your surreptitious cool-eyed appraisal debating if my love for you is real” (Sleigh, 11-14).

In these lines, the “wary expectancy” look that the child expresses is the fear of the unknown and how the adult figure once felt this same way when they were the same age as the child. The “surreptitious cool-eyed appraisal” also represents the doubt that the child has about the adult figure’s love as the adult figure is not biologically her real father and if his intentions are true.

Towards the end of the poem, the speaker recalls memories between the two and the speaker also mentions “Am I destined to be those shark-faced waves that my death will one day make you enter?”, (Sleigh, 15-16) which indicates that the father figure genuinely cares for the child’s well being that without him she will be able to carry on. Memories of the stepdaughter and her mother picking out her prom dress makes the speaker realize how much the child has grown and how far she has come along. “What father could stand up to your unsparing eyes gauging with such erotic calculation your figure in the mirror?” (Sleigh, 19-20).

When the speaker reflects back on his life he says “all I see are dead zones” (Sleigh, 22) as he will not be able to experience certain things with his stepdaughter once she grows up and becomes an adult herself. “No grandchildren, no evenings at the beach, no bonfires in a future that allows one glass of wine per shot of insulin.” (Sleigh, 23-24).

The way that these lines are presented, it seems as if the speaker is on his deathbed and expressing his last words to his stepdaughter as his he mentions that his occupation is now to help her be alone. Without the father or mother in her life, the stepdaughter may fear the unknown of what may come after her parents are no longer here. He is preparing her to live her live without him and expresses to her that he will love her no matter what just as if she was his own.

The imagery used to describe the daughter displays your typical teenage behavior as she’s locked away in her room consumed in technology and social media. “When you hold up inside yourself, headphones and computer screen taking you away,” (Sleigh, 8-10). She’s portrayed as young and innocent as well as being susceptible to the curiosities of the world as the father sees similarities in her in comparison with himself when he was a teenager.

Conclusion

In both poems, they explore the commonality of death, youth and age, and the innocence of a child. Although told from two perspectives, they both recollect memories from both the children’s past as they grow up and describes the joys and fears that one experiences in childhood. The children’s innocence is also expressed as they experience the curiosities and fear of the unknown. Each poem holds these elders to a certain expectation as they are providing guidance and protection for these children. The author’s intent was to invoke emotion while allowing the audience to make personal connections to each of the poems.

In connection to the poem “Boomerang”, it makes one think back on their childhood and recall the adult figures in their life that have guided them and taught them certain aspects of life. One day your father is teaching you how to ride a bike and the next you see yourself teaching your children the same thing.

In connection to the poem “Second Sight”, it makes you reflect back on certain memories that were fond and not so fond and makes you grateful for the times that you have shared with certain adult figures that are no longer with you. The way that the author uses literary elements in each poem, it conveys a different message in similar way about a relationship between a child and their parent figure, which an individual can draw connections from.