“The Portrait” – Kunitz

Time and Space is apparent in this poem in how the author begins with a description of how his father killed himself in the spring during his mother’s pregnancy. He also goes on to say that it is currently sixty four years later and he still feels the sting of his mother’s slap from when he was a young boy. The sting of the slap is poignant because it was such an impact that after all these years he still feels the pain of his mother, the pain she feels and her anger toward his father. It is never easy to forgive someone for taking their life, but as being one survived by a person who has committed suicide are we to forgive them? This presents the poets experience, the motivation. He is describing his experience as a boy without a father as insight to his own life so that readers can relate and understand. We are left with the feeling of the same sting.