# Declaration of Independence explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by Ring Lardner.

## What happens

A poetic reflection on a child's newfound insistence on independence, rejecting parental assistance in daily activities like being lifted, fed, or seated. The narrator admires this spirit while wistfully acknowledging the passage of time.

## Themes in this chapter

### Innocence and Growth

The child's transition from dependence to self-reliance marks a key moment of growth, celebrated with both pride and a touch of nostalgia.

### Domestic Life

The poem captures everyday domestic scenes—meals, chair-lifting, and parental care—that frame the child's assertion of independence.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown Narrator

The parent or caregiver observing and addressing the child's declaration of self-sufficiency.

### Young Stranger

The child who asserts independence by insisting on doing things alone, such as sitting, eating, and moving without help.

## Key lines

> Myself! It means that you don't care To have me lift you in your chair; That if I do, you'll rage and tear.

The child refuses to be lifted into a chair and becomes angry if the parent tries to help.

_Illustrates the child's strong desire for autonomy in a simple physical task._

> Time was, and not so long ago, When you were carried to and fro And waited on, but now? No! No!

Not long ago, the child was completely dependent on being carried and cared for, but that is no longer the case.

_Highlights the rapid change from infancy to toddler independence._

> Well, kid, I hope you'll stay that way And that there'll never come a day When you're without the strength to say, 'Myself!'

The narrator wishes the child will always maintain this independent spirit and never lose the ability to assert self-reliance.

_Expresses a parent's hope for the child's enduring confidence and autonomy._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters/declaration-of-independence
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_19_se/chapters