A Baby Running Barefoot by D.H.Lawrence

Introduction :

        Baby Running Barefoot is progressive  poem by D.H. Lawrence. This is simple poem talking about small baby who  is newly learn to running with their bare foots on green grass. Poet talking about new beginning as well as Baby's new learning of running. With the using metaphor of baby's feet poet showing the newness in the natural world. The quickness and unpredictability of baby is showing temporariness of every situation. 

About Author:

         D.H. Lawrence who is English writer, novelist , poet and essayist born in 1885, September 11 and died on 2 March 1930. David Herbert Lawrence 's major works is ,

1. Sons and Lovers

2. The Rainbow

3.  Women in love.

      His major ideas or themes in all works are modernity, industrialization, sexuality, emotional health, vitality, spontaneity and instinct.

Analysis  of the poem :

Poem :

When the bare feet of the baby beat across the grass

The little white feet nod like white flowers in the wind,

They poise and run like ripples lapping across the water;

And the sight of their white play among the grass

Is like a little robin’s song, winsome,

Or as two white butterflies settle in the cup of one flower

For a moment, then away with a flutter of wings.

I long for the baby to wander hither to me

Like a wind-shadow wandering over the water,

So that she can stand on my knee

With her little bare feet in my hands,

Cool like syringa buds,

Firm and silken like pink young peony flowers.  

 

First stanza: 

               

            In the first stanza poet begins with describing little baby's bare feet among the grass as white flowers (simile) which was nooding in the wind. The poiseness of that feet is like ripples of water. Then he compared it with Robin's (one type of bird) song which was winsome in hearing. Poet again compare two feet with two white butterflies, here butterflies symbolises rebirth in context of baby's rebirth of running. Two butterflies sitting on the flower for a moment and then away with flutter of wings, here this is showing quickness and unpredictability of baby.  Delicacy of baby and her natural not binding her, she is free for doing everything.  

Second stanza: 

         

            In the second stanza poet yearning for baby's arrival. In a way he is trying to catch baby's attention so that she will come to him. Baby's nature is to wander so it's difficult to catch them. She is wandering like wind-shadow over water. He wany that she will stand on his knee with little bare feet, here feet symbolises for treasured and freedom. Then he compared feet with syringa ( one type of flower) buds, which is cool and pink peony (flower) which is form, silken and young. 

    

       With the symbol of baby it's showing wildness and newness which is lost in anyone older. As poet gives here freedom of everything to baby that is why it's progressive poem.

Theme : 

1. Beauty

2. Childhood

3. Family

4. Father

5. Parenting

6. Nature

7. Pablic domain

Figure of speech:

         In this poem poet follow free verse to show the freeness of baby to go anywhere. There is no rhythm scheme followed apart from knee & me in second stanza. White colour is showing innocence of baby which was used in various comparison including white flowers and white butterflies. Barefoot is symbol of freedom. Poet uses simile of flowers to compare with feet's tenderness.

Conclusion: 

       This is short but deep poem as it was published in modern time poet throughout the poem talking about independent value and vitality. By taking a metaphor of baby poet reflecting emerging new values, naturalistic structure is one of them. This poem is in a way following romentic themes and so realistic in nature that readers can connect with the feelings.