'Catrin' by Gillian Clarke reinforces the themes of parent and child conflict and a conflict in emotions to show an overall loss of power and control for the protagonist of the poem, as well as her daughter, Catrin. The poem starts with a reference to Catrin's birth and how the mother feels inadequate and worried about raising a daughter and shows their constant arguing and clashes they have throughout their relationship. At the end of the poem there is a slight reinforcement of the mother's grasp for control. Clarke uses metaphors, juxtaposition and emotive language to highlight the struggle in their relationship.
The poem starts with Clarke referencing the past; "I can remember you, child" to show the mother is trying to think of a positive time in her and her daughter's relationship. The writer has isolated the word 'child' through the use of a comma to hint that her relationship with her daughter is currently challenging. The word 'child' is also quite degrading and shows the mother trying to gain control and power by reinforcing her daughter's adolescence. Furthermore, the reader is made aware that the mother's flashback is to the time when she's waiting to go into labour; "As I stood in a hot, white room" The imagery of "hot" and "white" creates an image of a hospital room, showing a negative atmosphere and how her labour was possibly difficult and uncomfortable. Clarke refers to the pregnancy as it's something that a reader can relate to and we understand that it's difficult to be in control of your body during this time. Therefore, from the beginning of the poem the reader is shown a loss of emotional control felt by the parent in the poem.
Secondly, Clarke reinforces the loss of parental control in the first stanza; " first fierce confrontation". The use of the word " first" foreshadows future arguments in their relationship, highlighting a loss of parental control for the mother.
