The poem “advice to my son” is one of the best examples of father’s advice to his son. Every father gives some advices to his young one, when he enters in his practical life. Every one seeks advice from his elders throughout his life especially in unique moments of life (Mienke)
“Advice to my son” is the perfect example that not always old sayings are correct and impact positively in today’s life. Every period has its own requirements, own demands, and not always old saying are correct such as when the author advises his son to choose a wife after he meets the wife’s mother (Mienke)
In line 17, he says” Marry a girl after seeing her mother”. There are a number of assumptions made by the author while advising to his son. After evaluating all of his assumptions, I realized none of them to be valid. I observe all these statements are general assumptions passing generation by generation. The author says if you want to know about a girl meet the mother first she will explain how the girl will be at her age since she gave birth to the girl (Mienke)
In line 11-18, the author advises his son to keep the beautiful things good food, wife, and job in his life and to sustain those more than his life, as, a balanced life will keep him happy and alive. The author has given excellent advice to her son, by keeping beautiful and good things in his life and to take care of them wisely, however, the assumption he has made for marrying a girl that meet her mother before getting married is totally wrong as he says if the mother is beautiful in that age, the girl will be the same as her.
I disagree with the assumption as every human being has its own physical and internal strength. There is no guarantee that if the father has lived till age 90 yet firm, the son will also get the same age. The same formula applies to the girl that it is not necessary that if the mother still looks lively and beautiful at the age of 60, the girl will also get the same.
The author uses lots of practical and imaginary assumption while making the advice to his son for the better life. There is a very small distinction between spending lives to its maximum potential, yet crapulent (Mienke). At the same time, one must keep a good balance between spending a good life, and executing long range.
The author advised the son to “show your soul to one man.” The father tries to convince his son to ‘open up’ to someone. The author referred a best-friend. The author is stressing the significance of a good and healthy relationship with your Creator, i.e. God. The author best advice has been saved for the later stages. The author says, to “always serve bread with your wine” and to “always serve wine.
Peter Meinke’s poem has chosen a very clear way of comprising advice to his son, in a very professional and beautiful, well-written poem, lined collectively imagery to modify the poem and entertain the reader. Meinke declares “beauty is nectar // and nectar, in a desert, saves” (Mienke)
As per him, beauty holds lots of strength in it and can do many things in just few seconds. He has made a very good advice to his son with relation to God, relation to his best friends, his beloved wife and to spend a healthy and balanced life.
Conclusion
The author has used beautiful ways to advice his son about spending his life in a better way. He has used examples of various things to explain his point. He has explained the importance of good and healthy relationship in life, that how one person can spend healthy balanced life by keeping all necessary things in a line. The author also focuses on the relationship with God; he made wonderful advice to his son for keeping the best relationship with his creator.
I agree and appreciate his saying and advices except only one “marrying a girl after meeting her mother” (Mienke)
The basis of this statement is on several assumptions of the old generation and been passed generation to generation however, I do not agree with the author, as I believe a man/woman has his own nature, physical and mental strength, no one can guarantee the future of his own. If the mother is beautiful we cannot guarantee the daughter will be beautiful also, if the father is sound, no one can guarantee the strength of son.
Overall, the piece of advice is good and guides toward the best part of life. The author has professionally and beautifully aligned the poem. This piece is one of the best writings of the author. The poem has inspires a number of people and also adds a good and healthy contribution in literature.
Work Cited
- Mienke, Peter. https://percececil.wordpress.com/advice-to-my-son-by-j-peter-meinke/>. 19 09 2008. 16 10 2013.