Poetry (motif)
Poetry, as both a literary craft and an expressive art form, is undeniably the poem's central motif. While the first part focuses on defining and demonstrating the different kinds of metrical feet used to craft poetry, the second half indicates the qualities a poet should posses and the potential rewards bestowed upon them.
Father (symbol)
Coleridge uses the multivalent word "father" to both refer to himself and God. As a result, "father" is used to literally denotes Derwent's familial connection to Coleridge, and also symbolically to suggest poetry's spiritual depths.
Skiddaw (Symbol)
Although Skiddaw is a real mountain, here it is used to symbolize the extent of Coleridge's love for his son. In other words, even if his son were to stand on the tallest mountain around, he could spot no one who loves him as much as his father. The mountain also symbolizes Coleridge's hopes for his son's poetic accomplishments, as the mountain is a conspicuous landmark in England's lake district where many of Coleridge's literary friends composed some of their finest work.
