I decide to do it free, without a rope or net.
The opening line immediately provides context to the title of the poem, "Climbing My Grandfather." It becomes clear that this will literally occur (while functioning symbolically) in the poem. Information about the speaker's character can be gleaned here because free climbing is a risky endeavor, but the speaker chooses to do it anyway. A rope would provide extra support and a net would catch the speaker if he fell, but he decides not to use any gear. This shows that he is willing to take risks in his life, and that he has a sense of adventure.
to an earth-stained hand. The nails
are splintered and give good purchase,
the skin of his finger is smooth and thick
like warm ice.
In addition to the content of these lines functioning metaphorically, the use of enjambment also contributes to the meaning. Enjambment is the continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line. Here, a single sentence is extended over the course of four lines. This particular stylistic technique serves to replicate in the reader’s mind the process of mountain climbing, with its irregular pace punctuated by sudden stops and delayed restarts. The comparison of the grandfather's skin to warm ice is important in that it focuses on texture rather than temperature. This oxymoron helps portray the grandfather as a warm and loving person.
At his still firm shoulder, I rest for a while
in the shade, not looking down,
for climbing has its dangers,
The grandfather's body has not yet broken down with age, as evidenced by his "still firm shoulder." The speaker recalls his grandfather from the perspective of a child, and the "still firm shoulder" implies a protective quality; the speaker can rely on his grandfather. In other words, his grandfather provides a shoulder for the speaker to lean or rest on. Looking down might cause the speaker to lose his nerve, and so he decides not to. "Climbing," which represents growing up and looking backward in time through memory, is a risky effort.
