Thursday, January 1, 2009

In "The doctor who treated the raped baby and who felt such despair" the poem seems to move between contrasting settings. Quote and discuss...

In Finuala Dowling’s poem “To the doctor who treated the raped baby and who felt such despair” she compares a horrific situation with examples of normality. The doctor faces the task of dealing with the raped baby’s injuries while around the world, other children experience the care they deserve.



that on the night in question


there was a light on in the hall


for a nervous little sleeper


and when the bleeding baby was admitted to your care


faraway a Karoo shepherd crooned a ramkietjie lullaby in the veld


and while you staunched


there was space on a mother-warmed sheet


for a night walker



Her poem is formatted so each of the doctor’s actions while treating the baby is aligned with the action of a family member caring for another child. Lights are left on for children who are afraid of the dark, a shepard sings a calming song, and a mother makes room in her bed for a child seeking comfort in the night.


The author does this to emphasize the gravity of the crime against the child, and the toll it takes on the physician. In addition, the format explains how society can ignore this type of problem because we do not have deal with it. The doctor questions the existence of God.



And for the rest of us, we all slept in trust


that you would do what you did,


that you could do what you did.


We slept in trust that you lived.


No comments:

Post a Comment

How does the choice of details set the tone of the sermon?

Edwards is remembered for his choice of details, particularly in this classic sermon. His goal was not to tell people about his beliefs; he ...