Thomas Kinsella Mirror in February Setting the Scene

Thomas Kinsella

Mirror in February Setting the Scene �Poet shaving in bedroom using shaving mirror. �The poet describes the various smells in bedroom (musty, dry & stale) �The poet is daydreaming while shaving. �His mind is filled with a “fantasy”.

Mirror in February The poet realises he is no longer young �The poet is suddenly struck by his reflection in the shaving mirror: “I towel my shaven jaw and stop and stare”. �He is stunned or “riveted” by the sight of his own reflection. �He realised he is no longer young.

Mirror in February The poet looks inside himself The poet then looks into the “mirror of his soul”. He realises his soul is empty, containing “little more” than the realisation that his youth is past.

Mirror in February The poet contrasts himself with Christ Poet same age as Christ when he died – 33. Christ died fulfilling his purpose in life at 33 unlike poet who has not achieved his yet.

Mirror in February The poet contrasts himself with the trees � Trees are renewable – the trees branches have been pruned or “hacked” away so they will grow back even stronger in the summertime. � Just as the trees have been mutilated by axes so the poet’s body has been mutilated by the passage of time. � Note of acceptance at end of poem: “Not young and not renewable, but man”.

Mirror in February Language Assonance Cacophony Metaphor Paradox