The Speaker

The poem is believed to be autobiographical, reflecting Richard Wilbur’s own experiences as a writer and a father. At the beginning of the poem, the speaker is indulgent towards their daughter’s creativity in the way that distant adults often are to children. However, they soon reconsider their simplistic perspective and see that their daughter has a full life ahead of her. By the end of the poem, the speaker recognizes that they cannot protect their daughter from the trials of life, but can only wish her well on her journey.

The Speaker’s Daughter

The speaker’s daughter is never seen, only heard from behind a closed door. They are implied to be quite young, yet driven; while composing an artistic work, they give it all the serious attention that any adult would to their own medium. If the speaker is read as a writer...