My Life Has Stood Still- a Loaded Gun.

My Life Has Stood Still- a Loaded Gun.

Introduction

A parent and a child are linked inextricably. A parent’s love for their child and their instinct and devotion to protect them is unalterable. The poem, ‘My Life has Stood- a Loaded Gun’ illustrates this very position. It shows how one person’s life can be so linked to another’s in a bid to protect them. The events described in the poem closely resemble a real-life situation I was recently made aware of.

The poem begins, ‘my life has stood- a loaded gun’, which is a metaphor (Dickinson, 1830-1886). The poet seeks to illustrate that his life is on hold, for he stands guard. He lays waiting to attack any threat that shall prevail upon the subject of his love. This resembles the life of one Leonard Karenina who is the father of Anissa Karenina. Leonard is a well-known leader of a criminal syndicate and Anna, his estranged daughter. Both Leonard and Anissa have spent the last twenty-eight years of their lives oblivious to each other’s existence. The long-overdue reunion of the two has placed Anna in something of a vulnerable situation. Leonard’s rivals from the criminal world seek to use her to frustrate his empire. Consequently, Leonard’s life has taken a turn to accommodate his daughter Anissa and to protect her against the imminent danger. The lines ‘the owner passes- identified-/and carried me away’ (Dickinson, 1830-1886) is similar to the events in Leonard life in that the ‘owner’ of his life was identified as his daughter and she took hold of all his concern.

The poet uses the vivid image of a gun-owner and his gun out in the sovereign woods hunting the Doe (Dickinson, 1830-1886). The poet uses personification to bring the woods to life. His use of the word sovereign to describe the woods is aimed at showing how the outside world and its actors have the ultimate power to control Anissa’s and his fate. The image of the hunting image is in line with Leonard’s life. All his resources are at his daughter’s disposal. She may use them to secure her fancies as does the gun-owner use the gun for his hunting venture.

The poet uses concrete language to describe the joy the gun derives from serving the owner. She writes ‘, and I do smile-such cordial light/ upon the valley glow- it is as a Vesuvian face/ had let its pleasure through’ (Dickinson, 1830-1866). Leonard’s life is illuminated by his daughter Anissa despite the tribulations they face. His experience with her is marked with moments of light and clarity and outbursts of happiness as is the experience of the gun, which is highlighted by the simile of the valley’s vesuvian face.

The protective role played by Leonard over Anissa’s life bears significant similarity to the role played by the gun in the owner’s life. The poet outlines’ ‘and when night- our good day has done-/ I guard my master’s head’ (Dickinson 1830-1886). Leonard’s devotion to his daughter’s protection is unparalleled. He watches her, day and night without ceasing. Leonard has employed a protective detail to surveil her activities.

‘To foe of His-I’m deadly foe-/none stir the second time’ is in congruence with the repute of Leonard (Dickinson, 1830-1886). He has the distinction of being both feared and revered. The fact that Anissa’s has him in her court acts as a deterrent to many who may wish to harm her. It happens that while many may initially see her as an easy target this position changes swiftly on the discovery, Leonard’s concern for her. The above quote also serves to show the impact that Leonard has. None stirs a second time after he exerts his power to curtail their actions.

The owner holds the gun’s affections without reserve. The poet expresses that the gun may live longer than the owner. The weapon, however, wishes that the owner may live longer. The gun possesses the power to terminate life, but its own life cannot come to an end (Dickinson, 1830-1886). Anna is the primary subject of Leonard’s love. He desires to have her live a full life and possibly to outlive him. He, however, recognizes that Anissa’s life is at higher risk than his own. This would be likened to the gun’s immortality. Leonard fears that his rivals would succeed at determining Anna’s life which would leave him bereft and without an important reason to stay alive.

The use of the metaphor of a gun speaks volumes about the lengths that Leonard, like most parents, would go for their children. The impact of a gun is fatal. The choice of such a lethal weapon aptly describes Leonard. Leonard has gone to the extent of killing his adversaries if it meant protecting his daughter.

Conclusion

In view of the analysis above, it is evident that the bond a parent and a child share is far-reaching and that a parent is naturally inclined to take any measures necessary to secure the well-being of their child.