GENETICS- SINEAD MORRISSEY

‘Genetics’ Being a single word, there is only a limited amount of information that can be inferred from the
title, however it is more specific than other titles within the ‘Poems of the Decade’ anthology and has a
range of interesting connotations to consider, such as science and research. It can also be interpreted as
linking to family and children, with a reader perhaps wondering what would be the cause of such a focus
on a more obscure aspect of family life and inheritance. The use of three syllables could be interesting to
some readers, who may interpret this (particularly after reading the poem) as relating to the idea of a
family unit of three people.

Poem Structure

‘Genetics’ has a notable rhyme scheme, with the final word of each stanza typically rhyming with the final
word of the first line in the next stanza, creating the idea of a link over the gap of the stanza. This would
be quite noticeable to a reader as the poem continues, and would likely to be thought of in relation to the
idea of a joining factor, in this case the narrator, which still exists despite the separation of the parents.
However, while this rhyme scheme does exist, some readers may feel that it is somewhat ‘forced’
because of the repetition of the same words in order to make this pattern, perhaps realising that this link
between the mother and father is likely to have not been maintained without the narrator.

There is also a relatively even structure in terms of stanzas in the poem, with only small exceptions to the
consistent line lengths and stanza lengths. For example, the fourth stanza has a notably short second
line, which is roughly half the length of the majority of others lines in the poem; this helps draw the
attention of the reader. In this case, it could be seen as a transitional point into the second half of the
poem, particularly with the idea of movement in “turn over”. The other notable exception to the regular
structure is the final line of the poem, which acts as fourth line in the final stanza, and could be interpreted
as representing the idea of continuation and personal growth, through the way in which it extends the
stanza and poem.

Another key structural technique is the use of end-stopped lines throughout the poem, with the majority of
lines either having full stops or commas at the end of them, helping to create a more even rhythm and
pace to the poem. This is particularly noticeable between stanzas, when full stops are used five times,
and a comma the remaining sixth, which helps to emphasise the break in the flow of the poem. Readers
may interpret this as alluding to the idea of separation and ‘breaks’ within a relationship, maybe even to
the extent of the transfer of the narrator from one parent to another.

Poetic Techniques

There is frequent repetition in the poem, most notably with “fingers” and “palms”, but also with a range of
other words. The effect of this on the rhythm of the poem is considerable, because some readers may
feel that it begins to form into a childlike rhyme or song. This would be very effective because it may in
turn be associated with something religious or spiritual, highlighting the significance of the ideas that are
being communicated, and also the relationships which exist between the narrator and their parents.

Despite ‘Genetics’ considering the loss of a relationship, there are a large amount of possessive terms in
the poem, such as “my” and “I” which communicate the ownership that the narrator has over their body,
and also in the characteristics which they have inherited from their parents. In addition, the use of “my”
often precedes either “mother” or “father” which further demonstrates the way in which the narrator is
bringing the two together, both in reality and also in the poem itself, with the frequently small visual space
between the two words emphasising this connection.

Verbs are used regularly in the poem, with examples such as “lift” “made” and “take”. These are effective
in their simplicity because they add a feeling of continuation and movement to the subject matter of the
poem, which could be quite effective for a reader at showing the continuation of this connection and
relationship. This technique also demonstrates how this connection can be seen as ‘everlasting’.
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Important Lines

“repelled to separate lands”

The idea of being “repelled” can be seen as having negative connotations, both through the idea of
backing away and retreating, and the actual actions which would encourage an individual to do so.
Interestingly, the word is often used for different circumstances, such as war, or something physically
rather than emotionally based. Also referring to locations as “lands” indicates extreme distance,
demonstrating the extent to the breakdown of the relationship. These multiple layers of this line make it
one of the more interesting examples of language in the poem, and overall very notable for the reader.

“who quarry for their image”

Using  “quarry” may initially seem a strange description, but can be interpreted as sounding similar to
‘quarrel’ which can in turn be understood as referencing the impact of the relationship breakdown on other
people, such as their friends. The idea of arguing over, or even searching and trying to discover “their
image” shows how these people are perhaps searching for something that was once present, as in the
relationship, which can no longer be found or agreed upon.

“I shape a chapel where a steeple stands”

An important part of ‘Genetics’ is the relation to ideas of the church and marriage, including this
description of the narrator making a shape of a steeple using their hands, which originates from the ‘Here
is the church’ nursery rhyme and actions. This childlike behaviour would perhaps create more sympathy
for the narrator from a reader, as it shows that separation can impact on an individual no matter their age,
and can have a lasting impact.

‘Genetics’ Key Themes

Family: Relationships within the family are clearly an important consideration in ‘Genetics’ as this is what
the majority of the poem is based around. It is interesting though to see Morrissey looking at aspects of
family life that are typically avoided or glossed over, perhaps recognising that such important events
should be acknowledged.

Identity: Similarly, the narrator uses the experience of family and their parents as a basis to consider their
own identity, and how it relates to their parents. This is most notable in lines such as “My body is their
marriage register.”

Society and Culture: As mentioned for the family theme, the poem could be seen as considering
the way in which society and culture as a whole has been changing over time and how
separation of parents is more common today than before, but presented with more positive
tones than may be expected.

Genetics‘ by Sinéad Morrissey is a six stanza poem that is made up of sets of three lines, or
tercets. The poem remains consistent until the last stanza which is made up of four lines, also
known as a quatrain.  The tercets make use of repetition and line structure. The poet has chosen to
repeat end words in a number of lines to give reference to the circular path of future history that the poem
alludes to. 
  “Genetics” by Sinéad Morrissey speaks on the composition of one’s body and how one is made
of their mother, father, and their combined history. 
GENETICS- SINEAD MORRISSEY
The poem begins with the speaker describing how her fingers resemble those of her father and
her palms resemble her mother’s. This is a fact that is deeply important to the speaker. It is this
connection that allows her to feel that she is still a part of a cohesive family. 
These parts of her hands keep her family together even after they have split up. Her parents are
no longer together, there is a lot of physical and emotional distance between them, but she
keeps them connected through a “marriage” of fingers and palms. The speaker even goes so far
as to create a marriage ceremony of sorts amongst all her fingers and her palms. Through this
act she is hoping to solidity their marital connection and family bonds.  
The poem concludes with the speaker considering a future child she could have with her partner
and the history that will then be in that child’s hands. She is ready to embark on this future, even
though her own parents were unsuccessful. You can read the full poem here. 
 

Stanza One
The speaker of this piece tells her narrative in the first person. She makes use of the pronouns,
“I” and “me,” while describing “My father” and “my mother.” It is very likely that this piece is
being told from the poet’s perspective but as there is no clear evidence that this must be the
case, this analysis will refer to the “speaker” of the poem as the main voice. 
The speaker begins by describing the composition and make up of her hands. She is looking
down at her own two hands and seeing in them parts of her mother and father. She sees her
father, “in [her] fingers,” and her mother, “in [her] palms.” The speaker is perhaps both projecting
her connection to her family members into her physical features while also recognizing
similarities between their extremities. 
She can recognize her mother’s and father’s hands when she sees her own. This is not
something that makes her feel uneasy, it’s something that she relishes. She holds up her hands
and looks,
…at them with pleasure— 
She is able to understand that her parents, “made” her by her hands. The speaker is referring to
the capacity of one’s hands to create. She has been created in their image. 

Stanza Two
In the second stanza she goes on to describe the fact that her mother and father were not
always together. A lot of the time they were in,
 …separate lands, 
To separate hemispheres,
They were both physically and emotionally separate from one another. She does not seem to be
distressed over this fact, but accepting that this is just the way that things have always been. 
She fully understands that her mother and father, 
May sleep with other lovers,
She is comforted by the fact that they are connected by their presence in her own hands. They
are together, “where fingers link to palms.” 
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Stanza Three
In the third stanza she continues to describe the state of her parent’s relationship. There is not
much left of it. There is no real relationship to speak of. The only things that remain are, 
…friends
Who quarry for their image by a river, 
Her parents are still cordial, they are “friends” but that friendship is based off of continually
changing imagery. It is like looking at oneself in a river, nothing is solid or stable. Their meaning
to one another keeps changing. 
Even this unhealthy connection does not depress the speaker, she is still comforted by the fact
that they remain married “by [her] hands.” No matter how far her parents drift from one another,
they stay connected through her own body. 

Stanza Four 
In the next two stanza the speaker takes her readers through a marriage ceremony that she
reenacts through the movements of her hands. This act of attempting to reconcile her parents
leads one to believe that perhaps she is not as accepting of her own situation at it seemed at
the out-start. She feels a need to craft a new narrative for her family. 
She creates a “chapel” with her own hands and places her father and her mother together. 

Stanza Five
Her parents remain there, “before a priest” who is “reciting psalms.” Her body is going to act as, 
…their marriage register. 
It is on, and though her body, that her parents are rejoined. 
 

Stanza Six
In the final stanza, and only quatrain of the piece, the speaker directs her narrative to her
partner. She is asking that she be allowed to go with, and stay with, her significant other and be
part of the “mirroring in bodies of the future.” She knows what happened with her parent’s
relationship but is ready to embark on one that will intertwine their own fingers in another body. 
She is looking into the possible future with her partner and the child they might have. This is a
new role for her as she takes the place of her parents and imagines the hands of her future
child. 
 

When looking at the poem ‘Genetics’, you must consider that is structured in the form of a
Villanelle. A Villanelle is a 19 line poem with two repeated rhymes and two refrains. They’re
made up of 5 tercets (stanzas with 3 lines) and 1 quatrain at the end. Villanelles also
concentrate on dissecting themes of love, loss and challenge – which is evident in ‘Genetics’
STRUCTURE
 GENETICS- SINEAD MORRISSEY
As said before the poem is a Villanelle form which is very structured and has a strict rhyme
scheme. However this my not be immediately obvious in ‘Genetics’.
 Morrissey rhymes words such as ‘palms’, ‘hands’ and ‘demands’ which may at first seem very
tenuous (making them half rhymes), however this helps to highlight that children are not carbon copies
of their parents, a direct link to the title. But that there is always a link despite physical separation
 The half rhyme is created by the ‘a’ sound
 The interlacing of words and rhyme suggets the complex form, coming back in the complex
inheritance of genetics as revealed in the narrator’s hands
 The villanelle is also a circular form, coming back in the final couplet to where it began. It forms
a ring, echoing the imagery of marriage in the poem
LANGUAGE TECHNIQUES
The language in this poem is very symbolic and essential to understanding what the poem
is about and why it is effective (which is crucial to identify in your essays!)
 There is the use of repletion of the lexical cluster of hands – with palms and fingers. This is used
as a concrete symbol for the abstract idea of the bond that she likes to see between her parents despite
their divorce. It is a link to the parents as a unit
 There is sometimes quite complex vocabulary with words that some readers made not be familiar
with e.g. quarry, bequeath. ‘Quarry’ means to hunt or search for – could be either a link to the daughter
searching for something to bring about ease that she wants to console herself about her parent’s
separation. HOWEVER it could also be a link to the line before “nothing left of their togetherness but
friends” – brings about the question of who’s side do the couple’s friends go on?
IMAGERY
As I have already spoken about, there is imagery of the human body but there is also a
strong theme of religion…
 Religious imagery is used to reinforce the ideas of marriage and bonding vows. The line “I shape
a chapel where a steeple stands” describes the hand games that is often played with as a child. This
suggests the visual image of two hands coming together, which in itself could echo the idea of hands
coming together to pray or the parents coming together in order to create the poetic voice.
 One point hat you could make is about the contrast between the scientific (suggested by the title)
 The idea that she sees both her mother and her father in herself in a comforting image to many
readers who may also have divorced parents and can relate to the idea that one can feel unloved and
worthless – especially when forced to choose between your parents.
TONE
 CREATION IN A MOMENT OF LOVE
 When at first it may appear to be quite a sad poem, as we read on, we can tell that it is more about
putting perspective onto a situation
 Certain things in the poem take way from the harsh reality of her parent’s situation such as the
link to concrete nouns such as ‘fingers’ and ‘palms’
CONCLUSION
 Finally, as the poem reaches a conclusion, we see the poetic voice resolve feelings of confusion
of how they perceive their human relationships into realisation that appreciation of love between
parents, even if it’s not for long, is worth something to a child.
 Feelings of hope for the future comes about at the end of the poem. This is shown by the use of
pronouns in the final stanza, “So take me with you…I’ll bequeath my fingers, if you bequeath your
palms”, effectively presenting the change in tone as the woman looks forward to when she has her own
children and the relationship which she has with her partner, “you”.
 When we consider the request to bequeath their hands and fingers, it presents a heart-warming
image that provides the reader with satisfaction that in the face of all the skirmishes she has faced
growing up with divorced parents, potently conveys a sense of satisfaction
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