Edward- Anonymous

"Why does your sword so drip with blood,/ Edward, Edward.../ O I have killed by hawk so good,/ Mother, Mother." PAGE 977-978

I found this poem to be rather interesting. In some ways, it reminded me of the poem about APO 96225 and the boy's description of war. In "Edward," the mother keeps asking the son, Edward, what he has done. Like the boy in APO 96225, Edward responds but not fully. He begins with things that are less grave. He starts with the killing of his hawk and steed, but his mother is persistent in asking what he did. When he says that he killed his mother, I noticed a shift in the pattern. Rather than asking about past events, Mother asks about future events. I was rather disturbed when Edward said that he killed his father like it was not big deal. He knew he would have to do penance, but he did not seem concerned. He also did not show very much love for his wife, children, and mother because he said that they would figure out what to do without him when he left. I think he killed his father on purpose so that he could get away from the responsibilities of his family. He knew that he would have a good excuse to leave if he killed his father. His act was definitely a little sketchy.