An Analysis Of Deborah Garrison's Sestina For The Working Mother

Combining the influence of Philip Larkin’s style of utilizing “plainspoken English” (“Deborah Garrison”), and writing what she knows, Deborah Garrison incorporates deceptively simple language with aspects of her life in her poetry construction. As a working mother, the narrator of Garrison’s, “Sestina for the Working Mother” offers insight regarding inner thoughts and emotions she experiences in everyday life. While her poem exposes internal conflict, Garrison provides hope. Using concepts of attitude, emotion, imagery, and style, she demonstrates that performing the daily circus act of balancing work and motherhood, produces a natural inclination towards daydreaming about conceivable alternative realities, grappling with guilt, yet ultimately, realizing the selected path can function; balance is achievable.

Fulfilling roles of both mother and breadwinner generates an assortment of feelings for the narrator.

In the poem’s opening lines, she begins her day occupying the harried mother role, and with “too much to do,” (2) expresses her struggle to balance priorities. After saying goodbye to her children, and rushing out the door, she transitions from one role to the next, as well as, one emotion to another. As the day proceeds, when reflecting on her life choices, she wonders “what she might have been as a mother” (23), fantasizing about being around, experiencing more of her children's development and daily life. By deciding to pursue her current situation, she must entrust her children’s wellbeing to another, rather than herself, and as she “feels the quick stab […]” (36) she experiences flashes of guilt. However, knowing she has happy and well cared for children, in spite of it all, creates recognition of the situation’s

functionality.
Feelings of chaos, guilt, yearning, faith and enlightenment are prevalent throughout this verse. While at work, away from her children, the narrator frequently imagines possibilities, and feels a guilty “stab” yet eventually finds clarity. Garrison’s decision of including echoing concepts of listening and hearing most obviously seems to express this attitude. While, in some contexts, these words are quite literal they also imply a necessity to examine the deeper meanings behind things left unsaid. By “listening” she realizes her family is surviving, and blissfully content with their life. Therefore, although she may not always be physically present all portions of their day, no permanent damage develops, as everyone involved endeavors to fulfill the children’s needs. So, while a clash exists between her mind and heart, she finds serenity in her “chosen flight from them, on this and every morning” (31).
Using numerous literary devices to convey her message, Garrison employs one immediately in the first line, stating there is, “No time for a sestina for the working mother.” Nevertheless, the poem is a sestina about a working mother, indicating an ironic message, apparently illustrating competitive feelings of juggling motherhood and outside employment commitments. Furthermore, using references of “as if shot from a cannon” (7) and “It has tamped her down tight and lit her out the door” (22), in addition to, multiple mentions of flight she conveys an image of her narrator as a projectile hurtling through life. With these words, Garrison seemingly demonstrates the narrator’s hectic lifestyle pace, the propulsion of moving between roles, as well as, the guilt she experiences. Finally, presenting opposing concepts of sunshine and shadows; anxiety, and happiness; and talking and listening, Garrison expresses the narrator’s various contradictory sentiments.
Without ostentatious language obscuring the message, Garrison fashions a poem simple to read and understand. Nevertheless, her casual language use directly conflicts with the difficulty her narrator encounters, serving to highlight the battle between the two worlds. Also, using first person point of view lends enhanced levels of personality and empathy to the poem. Combining these features, Garrison’s verse appears relatable, providing impressions of real world authenticity for her readers.
In today’s American society, a growing number of women are undertaking a daunting task, serving double duty, as both mother and workforce member. Whether willingly or due to necessity, the struggle to find a harmonious balance between the worlds can be problematic, if not impossible. By sharing “Sestina for the Working Mother,” Garrison, establishes a sense of solidarity among those striving to overcome this challenge; they are not alone. Perhaps more importantly, she grants optimism and guidance, expressing the belief that by listening “to her heart and the voices of her children.” (37) individuals discover the proper path to follow, the right route for them, therefore, finally achieving balance.