to my nine year old self by Helen Dunmore — Analysis & Translation

Original Poem

to my nine year old self helen dunmore You must forgive me. Don't look so surprised, perplexed , and eager to be gone balancing on your hands or on the tightrope You would rather run than walk, rather climb than run rather leap from a height than anything. I have spoiled this body we once shared. Look at the scars, and watch the way I move, careful of a bad back or a bruised foot. Do you remember how, three minutes after waking we'd jump straight out of the ground floor window into the summer morning That dream we had, no doubt it's as fresh in your mind as the white paper to write it on. We made a start, but something else came up - a baby vole, or a bag of sherbet lemons - and besides that summer of ambition created an ice-lolly factory, a wasp trap and a den by a cesspit I'd like to say we could be friends but the truth is we have nothing in common beyond a few shared years. I won't keep you then. Time to pick rosehips for tuppence a pound, time to hide down scared lanes from men in cars after girl-children or to lunge out over the water on the rope that swings from that tree long buried in housing - But no, I shan't cloud your morning. God knows I have fears enough for us both - I leave you in an ecstasy of concentration slowly peeling a ripe scab from your knee to taste it on your tongue.

Translation (English)

You need to forgive me. Don't look so shocked, confused, and eager to leave balancing on your hands or on the tightrope You'd rather run than walk, rather climb than run rather jump from a height than anything else. I've damaged this body we used to share. Look at the scars, and see how I move, careful of a sore back or a hurt foot. Do you remember how, three minutes after waking we'd jump right out of the ground floor window into the summer morning That dream we had, surely it's as clear in your mind as the blank paper to write it on. We started it, but something else came up - a baby vole, or a bag of sherbet lemons - and besides that summer of ambition made an ice-lolly factory, a wasp trap and a hideout by a cesspit I'd like to say we could be friends but the truth is we have nothing in common except a few shared years. I won't keep you then. Time to pick rosehips for tuppence a pound, time to hide down scared lanes from men in cars after girl-children or to swing out over the water on the rope that hangs from that tree long buried in housing - But no, I won't spoil your morning. God knows I have enough fears for both of us - I leave you deeply focused slowly peeling a ripe scab from your knee to taste it on your tongue.

About the Poet

Helen Dunmore (Contemporary)

Helen Dunmore was a British poet, novelist, and short story writer known for her novels such as 'Zennor in Darkness' and 'The Siege'. She won several prestigious awards including the Orange Prize for Fiction and the Costa Book Award.

Historical Context

Literary Form: Free verse
When Written: 2007
Background: The poem reflects on the passage of time and the changes that come with aging. It is a nostalgic and introspective piece where the poet addresses her younger self, exploring themes of innocence, loss, and the inevitable transformation of the body and spirit over time.

Sources: https://poemanalysis.com/helen-dunmore/to-my-nine-year-old-self/, https://genius.com/Helen-dunmore-to-my-nine-year-old-self-annotated, https://www.litcharts.com/poetry/helen-dunmore/to-my-nine-year-old-self, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Dunmore

Detailed Explanation

Helen Dunmore's poem 'To My Nine-Year-Old Self' is a poignant reflection on the passage of time and the changes that come with growing older. The speaker addresses her younger self with a mixture of nostalgia, regret, and tenderness. She acknowledges the carefree and adventurous spirit of her nine-year-old self, contrasting it with her current cautious and scarred body. The poem explores themes of innocence, loss, and the inevitable transformation of the body and spirit over time. The speaker reminisces about the shared dreams and ambitions of her childhood, only to realize that they have drifted apart with age. The poem's imagery vividly captures the essence of childhood, with references to playful activities and imaginative pursuits. Ultimately, the speaker accepts that she and her younger self have little in common beyond a few shared years, and she lets go of the past, leaving her younger self to enjoy the simple pleasures of childhood. The poem is written in free verse, allowing for a conversational and introspective tone that enhances the emotional depth of the piece.

Themes

Literary Devices

Word Dictionary

Word	Meaning	Translation	Transliteration
perplexed	confused	unable to understand something clearly	per-plexed
tightrope	a rope to walk on	a rope or wire stretched tightly for acrobatics	tight-rope
scarred	marked with scars	having marks from old wounds	scarred
vole	a small rodent	a small animal similar to a mouse	vole
sherbet	sweet powder	a sweet flavored powder	sher-bet
cesspit	waste pit	a pit for waste or sewage	cess-pit
rosehips	fruit of a rose	small red fruits from a rose plant	rose-hips
tuppence	two pennies	a small amount of money, two pence	tup-pence
lunge	sudden forward movement	a quick forward movement	lunge
ecstasy	intense joy	a state of overwhelming happiness	ec-sta-sy