Author: Thomas Moore
"Come, come," said Tom's father, "at your time of life, "There's no longer excuse for thus playing the rake-- "It is time you should think, boy, of taking a wife"-- "Why, so it is, father--whose wife shall I take?"
Type of Poem: Clerihew
Date Written:
Date Published:
Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Publisher:
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Comments/Notes: The poem tackles themes of maturity, expectation, and defiance with a humorous undertone. The father-son dialogue creates a familiar setting, capturing the classic generational clash where the older generation advises the younger one. The father's voice represents societal expectations and traditional values, urging the son, Tom, to marry and settle down, considering his age. This advice is rooted in the idea of 'time of life' that often dictates the 'appropriate' behavior or responsibility one should undertake.
However, the son's response, turning the advice on its head with clever wordplay, demonstrates defiance and wit. This response not only brings humor to the poem but also challenges the imposed expectations. The tone is light and playful, yet there's a subtle critique of societal norms at play. The structure of the poem is simple, using the dialogue format to convey the message directly. The standout literary device here is the dramatic irony in the son's retort, offering a twist to the father's conventional wisdom. The son's witty response can be interpreted as a resistance to traditional societal expectations, highlighting the theme of individual autonomy and the right to determine one's path.