English # 1

Running Head: THE EXTREME OF SELFLESS LOVE 1

THE EXTREME OF SELFLESS LOVE 4

The extremes of selfless love

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The extremes of selfless love

A literary analysis of the poem “Momma” by Chrystal Meeker 1980

Abstract

The following article explores the extent of selfless love amongst human beings. In particular, the article focusses on the love of her mother toward her children and the extents she is willing to go through to ensure their happiness is secured.

Introduction

The poem “Momma” by Chrystal Meeker published in 1980 is a sentimental poem, it wraps the reader in a sad mood. The poem makes the reader question his or her selflessness and the instances they have shown selflessness to their fellow human beings and the times they have also been selfish in disregard to other human beings. The poem “Momma” also illuminates on the importance of parenthood and the role of parents particularly mothers in a family. The poem seeks to also cultivate respect and love of children towards their parents by showing the depths parents are willing to sink to in ensuring their children’s security and satisfaction. The article seeks to prove the claim Parents are entirely selfless towards their children.

The mother in the poem is the main symbol of selflessness and love. The mother is a selfless person, this is depicted by the act of letting her children eat heartily while she herself lives on the crumbs and leftovers they leave on their plates. This act shows that she puts the wellbeing of her children over hers and she does not play victim but instead hides her hunger and suffering from her children. The persona further describes her as stoic a person who face difficulties without complaining or uttering any word in protest. However the persona also describes her as demanding and authoritative which can be understood since there is no mention of a father figure in the entire poem. The persona also mentions that she is respectable “Startled and dismayed by the animalistic actions of one so usually a lady, Kayla moaned the universal sound for confusion and horror.” The line shows that “momma” behaved in a ladylike manner which suggests she carried herself in respect and honor.

The poem also addresses the fact that poor lead desperate lives emotionally. This is evidenced by the numerous fights the sister has had with the mother and also towards the end of the poem the speaker also narrates that she had a similar altercation with her mother. The poem also explains that most of these disagreements were cause when momma sent the children down to the Masonic lodge parking lot to do tasks probably to make ends meet. We also see the speaker in remorse to the momma for all wrong she had done prior to knowing of the sacrifice momma had once made for them. The emotional desperation is also evidenced by the fact that Kayla kept the disturbing truth of “momma’s” selfless actions until they ate her up inside and she confided in her sister. This is a proof of emotional desperation where Kayla, confronted by the images of her mother behaving like an animal to ensure her children had enough to eat and disregarding her own wellbeing, decides to confide in her sister to feel better.

Conclusion

Momma is the epitome of selflessness and in her own special way she represents how parents are towards their children, selfless and caring. In conclusion we should understand that despite their flaws parents do have the children’s best interests at heart. It is also evident that there’s emphasis on children to listen to their parent because most if not all the time they are right.