Metrical Feet and Poetic Form
As the title implies, the poem is explicitly concerned with describing the differences among the various kinds of what is perhaps the most fundamental poetic unit: the metrical foot. Evidently intending the poem to educate his son, Coleridge not only defines the different meters throughout the poem, but employs accent marks to illustrate their syllabic differences. In effect, the first half of the poem demystifies these potentially confusing poetic definitions by reinforcing them with lines that actually illustrates the definitions, such as in the opening trochaic line “Trochee trips from long to short”.
Fatherhood and Parental Love
Although the opening lines may seem drily technical, the latter half of the poem clearly rings with a father’s affection for his son. Coleridge’s repetition of Derwent’s name, for example, indicates the poem’s purpose is expressly for his son’s use and education. At the same time, the connection between father and son is reinforced by the poem’s focus on poetry itself, which Coleridge evidently hopes his son will pursue, much as he has.
Finally, the invocation of Skiddaw, a large mountain in England’s lake district, also underscores Coleridge’s affection for his son. Skiddaw is not just any mountain chosen at random to illustrate how, no matter the vantage point, Derwent would never find another who loves him like his father; it's also a reference to a specific mountain that the Coleridge family often visited. In turn, this final image gives the last line a uniquely personal quality that reminds Derwent of his shared memories with his father and also their shared lineage.
The Poet as Role Model
The poem configures poetic competency as an act of moral, emotional and mental clarity. When Coleridge shifts the poem's focus to Derwent, for instance, he specifically indicates that the pre-conditions for being a poet are that one must not only be "innocent, steady and wise," but also take delight in the natural world, posses a "tender heart," and have "sound sense in his brains." Coleridge, consequently, suggests that the poet is a role model to be emulated, who aligns their mind, body, and spirit with the natural world around them.
