The poem "Full Moon and Little Frieda" is told in the
second person point-of-view, which is the least popular viewpoint used in
writing.
The poet uses the word "you" twice, speaking
directly to the subject of the poem (Frieda).
I believe one
reason the poet writes in this "person" is because it is an unusual form, and it is
likely to grab the attention of the reader.
The second
reason I believe he uses this person is because it is important to the narrator to paint
a picture for the child that she will not remember when she is older, unless he takes a
"snapshot" with words of the moment right now.
Note the
following segment of the poem:
readability="8">
'Moon!' you cry suddenly, 'Moon!
Moon!'
The moon has stepped back like an artist gazing amazed at a
work
That points at him
amazed.
(This is like the
famous picture by M.C. Escher, called "Drawing Hands." If you have seen it, you realize
the trick the picture plays of two hands drawing each other—you cannot tell which
started first, or "who" is really drawing "who.")
Second
person point-of-view draws specific attention to the child. Through the tone and the
imagery used, we learn that the author's choice to speak directly to Frieda stems from
his fascination with her: he is amazed by her—as amazed as
she is by the moon, and the moon (through the use of
personification), by her.
(In case you did not know, Ted
Hughes was Frieda's father.)
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