The Pardon
The poem "The Pardon" focuses on a child's first encounter with death, when his dog dies. Both life and death are intertwined in this poem in such a way that one will not come without the other. The young boy has lost his dog and is shocked by the experience. Because of this, he carries a fearful attitude towards death with him into adulthood. Thses experiences are brought forth through the use of graphic imagery. The poet describes the boy's experience with death in such a way that the reader can sympathize with him. The poet begins this poem by setting the scene in the reader's mind. This is accomplished with the vivid imagery used, "...thick of summer...jungle of grass and honeysuckle vine." This imagery also creates a negative tone.