In “Climbing my Grandfather”, Waterhouse uses an extended metaphor of mountaineering to explore the developing relationship between a young child and his grandfather. At the start of the poem, the child/speaker “decide[s] to do it free”. On the one hand, this indicates that the child is starting to climb onto his grandfather’s knee – launching himself into the relationship “free[ly]”, with no inhibitions or restrictions. On the other hand, we notice that Waterhouse uses the language of mountaineering to indicate that this “free” climb will be completed without ropes. Later in the poem, the speaker acknowledges that “climbing has its dangers”. In making this metaphorical connection, Waterhouse implies that there is a sense of danger – just opening oneself up to a relationship might result in disappointment or betrayal. The extended metaphor of climbing also indicates that developing relationships may require persistence and hard work, but it can lead to great rewards.
As the child climbs, he encounters “the glassy ridge of a scar”, the “old stitches” and “splintered” nails. Through using the imagery of old wounds, Waterhouse suggests that the grandfather has painful memories and life experiences that the child does not yet understand. The adjective “glassy” has a number of potential interpretations. It could evoke a sense of vulnerability, as if the grandfather is becoming fragile – this impression of the ageing body adds a sense of poignancy to the poem as we are aware that the grandfather might not live to see his grandchild grow up. In addition, “glassy” suggests that the child himself is in a precarious, dangerous situation: he might fall or slip, thus continuing the motif that building relationships can lead to challenges.
Reaching his grandfather’s shoulders and face, the child explores the “smiling” mouth and feels “the slow pulse of his good heart”. The grandfather’s calm “pulse” creates an impression of tranquillity and security, whilst the phrase “good heart” indicates the child’s admiration for the older man’s integrity and strong moral compass. We see a similar respect for the older generation in “Follower” by Seamus Heaney – although it is notable that both poems are written in the third person, creating a sense of distance and indicating that there are fractures in the relationship. Towards the conclusion of his poem, Waterhouse continues the extended metaphor of mountaineering and climbing onto the grandfather’s knee, as the child looks up and sees “birds circl[ing]”, just as a climber would at the summit of a mountain. This imagery conveys a sense of freedom and contentment.
The form of the poem consolidates the extended metaphor, as the large single stanza seems to represent the mountain, whilst the use of free verse (no particular rhyme or rhythm) links with the idea of climbing “free”. Waterhouse also uses free verse to create a relaxed, conversational tone, appropriate for a poem about building connections with others. Additionally, the use of the present tense adds a sense of immediacy and suggests that this relationship will continue.
Amy Smith Literature 