Mid-Term Break, written by Seamus Heaney, is a poignant and emotional poem that tells the story of the narrator's experience of a family tragedy: the death of his younger brother in a car accident. The poem is written in the first person, and the narrator reflects on the events leading up to and following the death of his brother.
The poem begins with the narrator describing how he had to "cut [his] holidays short" because his parents received a phone call about the accident. The phrase "mid-term break" refers to the school holiday that the narrator was enjoying when he received the news. This immediately sets the tone of the poem as one of sadness and disruption, as the narrator's carefree holiday is interrupted by the tragic news.
As the poem progresses, the narrator describes his journey home and the reactions of his family members to the news. He describes his mother's tears and his father's "curse" upon hearing the news, and he also mentions his older brother's "red eyes" as they waited for the ambulance to arrive. These details convey the depth of the family's grief and the sense of shock and disbelief that they are experiencing.
The poem also touches on the theme of loss and the impact it can have on those left behind. The narrator reflects on the fact that his brother will never grow up or experience the joys of life, and he also mentions the "black coffin" that his brother's body is placed in. These details serve to highlight the finality of death and the sense of loss that the narrator and his family are experiencing.
One of the most poignant moments in the poem occurs when the narrator describes his brother's body in the "four-foot box" as it lay in the "parlour." This image is both heart-wrenching and evocative, as it captures the smallness and vulnerability of the narrator's brother's body, and the sense of emptiness that the family must be feeling at this time.
In the final stanza of the poem, the narrator reflects on the sense of disconnection he feels from the world around him as he tries to come to terms with his brother's death. He describes how he "counted bells" as he walked to his grandmother's house, and how he "counted till the bells / Stopped" as he stood at his brother's grave. This imagery captures the sense of numbness and disconnection that the narrator is experiencing, as he tries to process the enormity of the loss he has suffered.
In conclusion, Mid-Term Break is a poignant and emotional poem that captures the experience of loss and grief in a powerful and evocative way. Through its use of vivid imagery and emotive language, the poem conveys the sense of shock and disbelief that the narrator and his family are experiencing, as well as the finality and impact of death.
