The speaker gives a loving, caring and inspiring impression of his grandmother in the poem, 'Grandmother". The poet transmits the loving and caring impression by describing her shape. If the poet didn't love his grandmother he wouldn't know her quickly from a distance. He would even forget the type of scarf she puts on and the bag she carries. Moreover, he wouldn't even remember her words even after she passed away. Similarly, the warm and damp hands he remembers indicates that he had a lovely relation with this grandmother. She perhaps would caress him with love on his forehead after she returned back from the field. Again, the soothing and inspiring impression is seen evident when he says her words would flow inside him like the stirring ashes from the sleeping fire at night. More symbolically, we can also find the poet writing about such a grandmother's impression who would guide and inspire him for the exploration of the identity of his own tribe. The grandmother described in the poem is not a naive old woman but a great source of past that leads him to tread into his better future. Thus, the impression that the poet gives of his grandmother is not as simple as it appears to be. It gives an impression of American Indian grandmothers who always inspire people for their identity.
Source: Old Is Gold
