The Portrait

The Portrait by Stanley Kunitz is a poem that is full of poignancy that really stands out right off the bat. It starts by saying "My mother never forgave my father for killing himself..." This kicks the poem right into gear. Even though it is a very sensitive subject Kunitz does a wonderful job in elaborating his feelings on his father. He never new his father since he killed himself before his birth. The one quick glimpse of him that he got was a portrait that he found in his attic as a child. However, his mother quickly ripped up the portrait and slapped Kunitz. This must have been a rather shocking turn for a young man. The one small glimpse you get of your dead father is ripped away for you. Kunitz then goes on to say how even at 64 years old the sting of that slap can still be felt. He cannot feel the literal sting obviously but its the figurative sting of the years without his father and never being able to know him.