Open Wounds

“My dad had limitations. That's what my good-hearted mom always told us. He had limitations, but he meant no harm. It was kind of her to say, but he did do harm” (Gillian Flynn, Gone Girl). The relationship between parents and their young one is very fragile because one wrong decision and the child's perspective of their guardian could change their childhood . The poem “First Memory” by Louise Gluck displays the lack of love the speakers father fails to provide for his child . The writer uses comprehensive words that directly emphasizes how the narrator’s first memory was not one of their best memories. This gives the readers an opportunity to understand the relationship between the spokesperson and their father. The theme of the poem exemplifies powerlessness due to the speaker not being able to control their childhood. With the little information the writer gives, the narrator is searching for respect and love from their father, but instead they grew up with their first memory of pain. Even though the speaker feels as if their father did not love them, the spokesperson knew the heartache they felt was allowing themselves to love their father. Furthermore helping the narrator realize without pain there would be no love.
After reading “First Memory” by Louise Gluck, she displays the strength of her piece by keeping her poem short and straight forward. In order to do so, the poet uses words such as, wounded, revenge, and to illustrate the pain the speaker endures. The use of simplistic word choice shows the child that still hides behind those remarks, but at the same time it allows the readers to experience how unhappy the speaker was growing up. For instance Gluck writes,“I lived to revenge myself against my father..” demonstrating how the narrator is determine to prove to their father that they are more than what he thought of them (1-3). Furthermore, Gluck announces, “That pain meant I was not loved” (7-8). The word choice Gluck uses in this sentence gives readers a glimpse into the speakers emotions and how the lack of love cause pain. In addition Gluck ends her poem with, “It meant I loved” even though the speaker did not feel loved, they interpret it was due to permitting themselves to love (9). Growing up is not about who loves, but it is about being able to love as well as loving oneself. Which then grants individuals the power to move forward with their lives.