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The Child on the Cliffs
By Edward Thomas
Information about the poet: Edward Thomas was born in 1878. He had a wife and two children. He was a professional reviewer and editor. He was killed the day after Easter in 1917.
Type of Poem: Free Verse
Structure: 4 stanzas
Poetic Devices: Personification
Meaning: The meaning of the poem is that the child of this mother is dead, and the child wishes that the mother would come and visit and rest here. It supports that here when it says " I should like to be lying under that foam, dead, but able to hear the sound of the bell" This poem also says that the child wishes were not fulfilled. The child's wish was to have his mother come often and listen happily. It says so here "And certain that you would often come and rest, listening happily."
Opinion: I didn't like this poem. This poem didn't use too many poetic devices and didn't rhyme. I didn't like this also becase the poem is sad. The child died and all we wanted was his mother to visit and rest there and listen happily. The story comes to a sad end when the child said "I should be happy if that could be" showing that his wishes were not met.