Sally, Sorry! I issed you out of yesterday's reply.  I
think you point out very clearly where I need to make
things clearer.  I think I could say 'child-adjutant
which would clear up one issue.I was a very reluctant
helper at seven or so because there was so much
waiting time involved and there were so many more
interesting things to do.  The parts about the jobs
were true to him. And yes there were times he could
not be incontrol which may explain his highly
organised controlling at others.  Thanks a lot. cara
--- Sally James <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Hi Cara,
An interesting poem but I am confused about
> the "family man" in this poem. He is bossy and
> disruptive and initially I don't like him because he
> wants to be in control appearing a little
> chauvinistic at not wanting to do chores he
> considers "feminine"  Yet he shows feminine
> characteristics by wanting to keep his hands soft
> for writing. In the last stanza I presume he is
> having a fit and has lost control because he has not
> taken the correct dosage of medication. However for
> the narrator "the earth moved" at the sight of the
> "racking man." It seems the narrator enjoyed seeing
> the man lose control, the thought then came to me
> that the narrator (partner wife) was actually more
> in control than the man. "The bored sentinel"
> watching over him while he cleaned the house and who
> appeared a little psychopathic at enjoying watching
> him shake. It is an interesting poem and makes me
> wonder who is actually controlling who. The title
> Family man confused me a little. perhaps someone who
> thinks he is in control of his home family but isn't
> really? But maybe I have got it all wrong?  A good
> read though which got me thinking. Sally
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: cara may
> Sent: 31 August 2001 18:57
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: New Sub for c and c: Family Man
>
> First draft.  Your comments most welcome.I had
> another couple of stanzas but thought maybe this was
> enough.  Thanks. cara.
>
>
>               Family Man
>
>
>
>         He never pushed a pram
>         nor changed a diaper;
>         thought dusting, washing up
>         were finicky or female;
>         did not scarify the lawn
>         nor mulch the flower-beds
>         (needed to keep his writing hands
>         smooth and undamaged - so he said).
>
>         Yet weekly our furniture would become
>         an obstacle course
>         for his bold manoeuvres
>         as he thrust the vacuum cleaner
>         into alien corners
>         disrupted jigsaws, derailed story plots,
>         delayed toy constructions,
>         while I, his adjutant,
>         searched out trapped flex,
>         disengaged its knots,
>         unplugged, replugged his weaponry.
>
>         Then he would attack the debris
>         in the household's drains
>         while I stood, bored sentinel,
>         to turn taps on and off as he required.
>
>         At night he, alone, checked our perimeters.
>
>         We slept secure.
>
>         Sometimes,
>         before the medics found the proper dose,
>         without apparent benefit of aura,
>         he would fall down,
>         become one racking tremor.
>
>         I stood by
>                   for me it was the earth that
> shook.
>
>
>
>         cara    august 2001
>
>
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