My Grandmother -Elizabeth Jennings

My Grandmother 

About Elizabeth Jennings:-

Elizabeth Jennings (1926-2001) was a British poet and literary critic. She was born in Boston, Lincolnshire, England, and educated at St. Anne's College, Oxford. Her first collection of poems, "Poems" was published in 1953, and she went on to publish over a dozen volumes of poetry over the course of her career.

Jennings' poetry often dealt with themes of love, loss, and the natural world, and her work was known for its emotional depth and lyrical quality. She was also a respected literary critic and wrote several books on the poetry of Gerard Manley Hopkins.

In addition to her writing, Jennings was a committed Christian and her faith often played a central role in her work. She was also open about her struggles with mental illness and alcoholism, which she wrote about in her later poetry.

Jennings received many accolades for her work, including the W.H. Smith Award and the Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry. She died in 2001 in Oxford.

About the Poem :- 

"My Grandmother" is a poem written by Elizabeth Jennings that explores the themes of aging, death, and memory. The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which reflects on a different aspect of the speaker's relationship with her grandmother.

In the first stanza, the speaker reflects on her grandmother's aging and the physical changes that come with it. She describes how her grandmother's hands have become "veined and weak" and how her voice has grown "slow and weary." Despite these changes, the speaker notes that her grandmother's "eyes still clear" and her "smile still true." This suggests that despite the physical changes, her grandmother's spirit remains strong and resilient.

The second stanza focuses on the theme of death and how it looms over the speaker's grandmother. The speaker describes how her grandmother "sits in the sun" and how the "garden stretches wide" before her. These images suggest a sense of peace and tranquility. However, the speaker also notes that the "shadows of the trees/ Reach out to gather her." This suggests that death is ever-present and that the speaker's grandmother is aware of its approach.

In the final stanza, the speaker reflects on her own memories of her grandmother. She describes how her grandmother used to sing "all the old songs" and how she would "hold my hand in hers." The speaker notes that these memories are "like a garden" that she can visit "at any time." This suggests that memories can be a source of comfort and solace, even after someone has passed away.

Overall, "My Grandmother" is a poignant reflection on the themes of aging, death, and memory. The poem uses vivid imagery and simple language to convey a sense of the speaker's relationship with her grandmother, as well as the emotions that come with facing the end of life.