Poetry Essay, At the Crossroads
             Compare and contrast the two views of old age from both Old Man, Old Man and Warning.
             Whilst reading through the 'At the Crossroads' section of my Tracks book I noticed how the poems 'Old Man, Old Man' and 'Warning' have an extremely different outlook of old age. 'Warning' which is written by Jenny Joseph gives a positive view of old age that is portrayed in the title. Joseph is giving a caution as if to say, 'watch out I'm coming.' However U A Fanthorpe's poem entitled, 'Old Man, Old Man' immediately illustrates a negative attitude. As the 'Old Man' has been repeated we can already presume that we are going to feel sympathetic towards the old man. In my essay I am going to compare the two poems and try to verify their separate visions of old age.
             Both poems are similar in the way that they compare old age to middle age. However Fanthorpe is writing in the present tense where her father is an old man, "now you ramble in your talk." Whereas Joseph is writing in the present tense where she, herself is in her middle age, "now we must have clothes that keep us dry." Then Fanthorpe looks back on her father's middle age, "lord once of shed, garage and garden." Conversely Joseph looks into the future at her own old age, "when I am an old woman I shall wear purple." This conveys that Fanthorpe can give a more realistic view of old age as she is experiencing it through her father and seeing the effects that old age can have. While Joseph is wishfully thinking and dreaming that this is what her older years will be like.
             In 'Warning' Joseph writes of the way that now in her middle age she must, "set a good example for the children." Joseph is explaining that she has to act mature and sensible. Yet in 'Old Man, Old Man' Fan...