Poetry Blog #5- TWIST Pastan

“Marks” by Linda Pastan

Tone: The tone of this poem is indifferent but slightly cynical towards the end. All the way up until the last two lines the speaker’s tone is pretty bland. Then, when she says “wait ‘till they learn / I’m dropping out,” she’s sort of saying “jokes on you” to her family.

Word choice: Pastan intentionally refers to her relationships with the members of her family using grading scales. Her husband’s satisfaction with her is measured by letter grades. For example, she received an “A / for last night’s supper.” On the other hand, the speaker states that her son views her as just average with the potential to improve if she “puts her mind to it.” Pastan’s word choice implies that the speaker must maintain the standards of the other members of her family and that she is under the authority of her other family members.

Imagery: This poem paints a picture of a family indifferent to the needs of one another. The direct references to school grading systems establish a rigid structure that includes authority, responsibility, and ultimately judgment. However, nothing in the poem suggests that there’s love or sensitivity between the family members.

Style: Much like students can be unconcerned with their grades, the speaker has grown indifferent to the marks she receives from her family. She doesn’t have the slightest intention to put her “mind to it” (as her son says) or to improve other areas of her performance.

Theme: A family who takes one another for granted will eventually fall apart.

In this poem, the son, daughter, and husband take the mother for granted. They expect a lot from her, yet they are always judging her performance. Even though the daughter gives the speaker a “pass” rather than “fail,” the act of dishing out this mark suggests that the daughter is constantly judging her mother. From the tone of this poem, we can tell that the speaker has grown numb to the judgment. Instead, she anticipates her family’s reaction to her “dropping out.”  

Luckily for me, my mother has never considered “dropping out” of our family. However, I can relate to this poem because I realize that my mom manages a lot in our household without always receiving the recognition she deserves.