The Piano

D.H. Lawrence discusses part of his childhood in the poem “Piano”. In this poem, Lawrence seems to have a bitter sweet memory of his mother and part of him longs for the past while another part is seemingly disgusted by it. Lawrence does not intend to make his poem about the past glamorous with perfect form but there is a natural beauty in the way his free verse flows. Although he has been known to despise his mother’s power over him, in this poem he still yearns for the past time that he spent with her. Lawrence states this feeling when he discloses, “In spite of myself, the insidious mastery of song betrays me back, till the heart of me weeps to belong” (329). He openly suggests that although his mother was overbearing at times there were still times in his life that he just wanted to be a part and belong in areas like piano playing. Although the poem has sadness it is honest in that memories always bring feelings that are good and bad.