Godmother

Godmother
by Dorothy Parker

The day that I was christened-
It’s a hundred years, and more!-
A hag came and listened
At the white church door,
A-hearing her that bore me
And all my kith and kin
Considerately, for me,
Renouncing sin.
While some gave me corals,
And some gave me gold,
And porringers, with morals
Agreeably scrolled,
The hag stood, buckled
In a dim gray cloak;
Stood there and chuckled,
Spat, and spoke:
“There’s few enough in life’ll
Be needing my help,
But I’ve got a trifle
For your fine young whelp.
I give her sadness,
And the gift of pain,
The new-moon madness,
And the love of rain.”
And little good to lave me
In their holy silver bowl
After what she gave me-
Rest her soul!

Literary Analysis
The subject of this poem is a godmother's love for a child. In Christianity, the concept of a godmother is a woman who vows to raise a child according to Christian morals. She assumes responsibility for the child's religious education and ensures that she will look after a child if the child is orphaned. Therefore she could play the role of a real mother.

The title “Godmother” makes it clear that this poem is about a godmother. The speaker speaks to her godmother and tells about her childhood when her parents gave her godmother the responsibility to raise her in a Christian way. The scene takes place in the nave of a church where a group of people have gathered to watch the ceremony. The tone is full of happiness and gratitude to their godmother.

The speaker begins the poem by remembering the day of her baptism. It seems that "a hundred years and more have passed" since she was baptized. She goes on to say that "a witch came and listened" who came in from the church door. The speaker's family and relatives gathered to attend the ceremony. On behalf of the child, the family members decided to abstain from evil and sinful acts as mentioned on the line "Renunciation of Sin". After the oath, the guests give gifts to the child, "some gave me corals", also "with morality", which implies the Christian code of ethics.

The speaker calls the godmother a witch; she "stood, buckled up / in a dark gray coat." Then she speaks and says that very few people need her help. Indeed, it ironically implies that the majority of people practically do not follow religious teachings. Therefore, the godmother might be of little use to her child. However, she continues: "But I have a little something / for your beautiful young puppy." Alluding to the idea that learning and obeying religious dogmas could be painful and difficult, she says, “I give her sadness and the gift of pain,” although in the end she would also give her a lot of love.

By the end Speaker is grateful to her godmother for cleansing and washing her of her sins. “And little good to leave me /… holy silver bowl. As her godmother, she had rendered the speaker a great service, "After what she gave me- / Rest my soul!" Hence, this is an expression of his love and gratitude for the godmother.

Structural analysis
The poem is written in lyrical form, although it is not divided into its own stanzas, even so its rhyming scheme is rhythmic and regular, ABAB

The day that I was baptized - A
It's a hundred years, and more! - B
A witch came and listened A
At the white door of the church, B

The metric pattern in this poem mixes the iambic trimeter with the trochaic quarter, such as “A witch came and listened / At the white door of the church”. These meters provide a musical touch and create movement in the poem. Alliteration appears in various verses, such as the "g" sound in "gave me gold" and the "s" sound in "he spat and spoke" which adds beauty to the Enjambment used throughout the poem as "Considerately, for me, / Renouncing sin ". This helps express complicated ideas on multiple lines. The diction of this poem is connotative and figurative; the poet uses a metaphorical language to convey the theme of love. Internal rhyme and assonance are absent; However, an ending line appears at the end of each stanza. The poetic mean of the anaphora is used in the case of the word “and”, which is used repeatedly at the beginning of the lines. This adds to the rhythm of the poem and creates harmony in the lines.

Instructions for using quotations
The poem "Godmother" is based on the theme of a godmother's services for humanity. This poem highlights her role during the baptism ceremony, specifically the way she takes responsibility for raising a child in accordance with Christian beliefs and religious dogmas. The poet greatly values ​​the godmother's sacred duty and is grateful to her like a real mother, since she works exclusively in the name of God. Therefore, lines of this poem can be quoted and dedicated to mothers on Mother's Day, such as:

“... little good to love me
In her holy silver bowl
After what she gave me-
Rest her soul!
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