THE PIANO
D. H. LAWRENCE
REILLY PETERMAN
THEME
IMAGERY
"mother's piano, little and brown" (2)
The image of the mother's piano comes to the poet's mind whenever he sees someone else playing a piano.
"a child sitting under the piano" (7)
When the poet hears music he is transported back to when he was a child, remembering all of the good times he had.
"as we watched mother's fingers glide" (12-13)
The poet is listening to another person play, but he still imagines that it is his mother playing her piano.
PERSONIFICATION
"darkness wandered outside" (11)
The poet is reminded of how long he and his family would sit and play music.
"hymns gleamed on our warm lips" (12)
Upon hearing this other person playing music, the poet is reminded of singing with his family as a child.
"music's ravaging glamour." (23)
The beautiful music reminds the poet of his mother's old tunes.
RHYME
"torn" (3) and "worn" (4)
The music transports the poet back to the image of his mother's piano.
"song" (9) and "belong" (10)
This rhyme shows that music has helped the poet feel a sense of belonging.
"room" (14) and "gloom" (15)
The poet is reminded of the room that his sister used to play music in. He remembers everything that she did when playing.