Genetics
This is a poem about both connection and separation, revolved around the central idea that our
genes remain a constant bond between the family no matter the distance that may come between
them. The use of rhyme and structure is central to evoking these ideas, and also through the cyclical
nature of the poem towards the end, the speaker turns her focus on how her genes will too be
passed down to her own children one day.
Key aspects of form and structure
Strong villanelle structure, where half rhyme couplets such as ‘palms’ and ‘hands’ are
separated by a central line, all of which half rhyme with another- for example ‘river’ and
‘over’. This winding together of two rhymes reflects the winding together of genes in a
child’s DNA, where both the parents are bonded irreversibly.
Some half rhyme and some words echo each other and are not exactly the same (e.g.
‘palms’ and ‘hands’)- children not exact replicas of parents.
The villanelle is also a circular form, coming back in the final couplet to where it began. It
forms a ring, echoing the connection of genetics in the poem
Repetition of ‘I know’ throughout the poem- sense of certainty
Key methods and arguments of the poem
At the heart of the poem, genetics are presented as something to connect and bind families
together. This sense of connection is conveyed throughout in a cyclical way.
‘My father’s in my fingers, but my mothers in my palms. I lift them up and look at them
with pleasure- I know my parents made me by my hands.’
o Hands are symbolic of connection, creation and identity- she looks down at her
fingerprints which hold her complex and unique identity inherited from both mother
and father. The speaker is referring to the capacity of one’s hands to create- she has
been created in their image.
o Though both mother and father are represented by different parts of her hands,
highlighting their differences perhaps, they are still connected and the speaker
projects her connection to these family members through her physical features.
o This is comforting to the speaker as she knows her hands will always symbolize a
bond between her family.
At the end of every stanza, the speaker refers back to this image of ‘hands’ to reinforce this
ever-present connection as her identity lies at the heart of the poem
Despite ‘Genetics’ considering the loss of a relationship, there are a large amount of
possessive terms in the poem, such as “my” and “I” which communicate the ownership that
the narrator has over their body, and also in the characteristics which they have inherited
from their parents.
This is a poem about both connection and separation, revolved around the central idea that our
genes remain a constant bond between the family no matter the distance that may come between
them. The use of rhyme and structure is central to evoking these ideas, and also through the cyclical
nature of the poem towards the end, the speaker turns her focus on how her genes will too be
passed down to her own children one day.
Key aspects of form and structure
Strong villanelle structure, where half rhyme couplets such as ‘palms’ and ‘hands’ are
separated by a central line, all of which half rhyme with another- for example ‘river’ and
‘over’. This winding together of two rhymes reflects the winding together of genes in a
child’s DNA, where both the parents are bonded irreversibly.
Some half rhyme and some words echo each other and are not exactly the same (e.g.
‘palms’ and ‘hands’)- children not exact replicas of parents.
The villanelle is also a circular form, coming back in the final couplet to where it began. It
forms a ring, echoing the connection of genetics in the poem
Repetition of ‘I know’ throughout the poem- sense of certainty
Key methods and arguments of the poem
At the heart of the poem, genetics are presented as something to connect and bind families
together. This sense of connection is conveyed throughout in a cyclical way.
‘My father’s in my fingers, but my mothers in my palms. I lift them up and look at them
with pleasure- I know my parents made me by my hands.’
o Hands are symbolic of connection, creation and identity- she looks down at her
fingerprints which hold her complex and unique identity inherited from both mother
and father. The speaker is referring to the capacity of one’s hands to create- she has
been created in their image.
o Though both mother and father are represented by different parts of her hands,
highlighting their differences perhaps, they are still connected and the speaker
projects her connection to these family members through her physical features.
o This is comforting to the speaker as she knows her hands will always symbolize a
bond between her family.
At the end of every stanza, the speaker refers back to this image of ‘hands’ to reinforce this
ever-present connection as her identity lies at the heart of the poem
Despite ‘Genetics’ considering the loss of a relationship, there are a large amount of
possessive terms in the poem, such as “my” and “I” which communicate the ownership that
the narrator has over their body, and also in the characteristics which they have inherited
from their parents.
