How Does Dylan Thomas Pay Respect to His Aunt in the Poem “After the Funeral”?

Answer

How does Dylan Thomas pay respect to his aunt in the poem “After the Funeral”?

In Dylan Thomas’s (1914-53) poem “After the Funeral,” the poet pays tribute to his aunt, who has recently passed away. The poem is filled with imagery and language that reflects the poet’s deep love and respect for his aunt.

Emotional and Personal Reflections: The poem is filled with personal reflections that show how much Ann meant to Thomas. He writes about his mourning process, saying, 

I stand, for this memorial’s sake, alone 

In the snivelling hours with dead, humped Ann.

This line reveals his deep sorrow and the personal impact of her loss. By sharing his own grief so openly, Thomas pays respect to his aunt’s memory. He shows how profoundly she affected his life.

Contrast Between Her Life and Death: Thomas respects his aunt by acknowledging the contrast between her simple, quiet life and the larger-than-life way he feels her loss. He notes that her death was “a still drop,” a modest and quiet end, true to her nature. Yet, he contrasts this with his own intense mourning: 

She would not have me sinking in the holy 

Flood of her heart’s fame. 

This contrast honors her humbleness while also highlighting the significant emotional impact she had on him.

Symbolic Merging with Nature: Towards the end of the poem, Thomas connects his aunt’s memory with natural elements. It symbolizes her lasting presence. He writes, 

the stuffed lung of the fox twitch and cry Love 

And the strutting fern lay seeds on the black sill.

By connecting her memory to the ongoing cycle of nature, Thomas shows that her influence continues to live on. This symbolic merging is a way of showing respect. It suggests that her spirit and legacy are eternal. She lives on through the natural world.