The Speaker
This poem concerns the speaker's coming of age and the way in which his relationship with his mother changes as he approaches adulthood. The speaker has a keen sense of adventure as he traverses and measures the "acres of the walls," the "prairies of the floors," and the various stories of the house. Though grateful for the stability of his mother back at the base of the measuring tape, the speaker is more than ready to reach the "breaking point" of the cord. This is demonstrated by the way he reaches towards a hatch that opens to the sky. There, he will "fall or fly" in his newfound freedom.
The Mother
The speaker's mother remains at the base end of the measuring tape as the speaker ventures out into the house, representing time passing and the speaker growing older. The mother is shown to be an involved parent when she continues to "pinch / the last one-hundredth of an inch" of measuring tape. Though this pinching can seem stifling to the speaker, it is also a sign of the mother's love. The cord of connection between them is defined as both an anchor and a kite, which allows for some movement while still keeping the speaker in a stable place.
