Topic Summaries

• Poet: Cecil Day-Lewis (1904–1972)
• Year: 1962
• Form: Elegiac lyrical poem, four quintains
• Key techniques: Simile, enjambment, natural imagery

About the poet

Cecil Day-Lewis was an Anglo-Irish poet, novelist, and critic, and served as the UK Poet Laureate from 1968 until his death. Born in Ballintubbert, Ireland, he was educated at Oxford where he became associated with the politically engaged group of poets including W.H. Auden. Early in his career, Day-Lewis’s poetry was heavily influenced by Marxist politics and the ideals of social justice, but over time he transitioned toward more introspective, lyrical works like this poem. As Poet Laureate, he promoted accessible poetry and was deeply concerned with the relationship between personal experience and broader human truths. written about his son (actor Daniel Day-Lewis), exemplifies this approach, blending autobiographical detail with universal insight.

Historical context

‘Walking Away’ was published in 1962, a time when traditional family structures were being reconsidered in post-war Britain. It also reflects mid-20th century anxieties about change, generational difference, and emotional restraint. The context of the poet’s own fatherhood – having raised four children and experiencing both war and loss – lends weight to the poem’s emotional reflection. It also mirrors a broader cultural moment when personal identity, particularly male emotional expression, was beginning to be explored more openly in society, art, and literature.

Literary context

This poem aligns with the post-war trend in British poetry of embracing personal experience and emotional candour. Stylistically, Day-Lewis retains formal control while moving toward psychological and philosophical inquiry. The poem also fits within the tradition of the parent–child elegy, engaging with themes of maturation, loss, and the limits of parental protection.

Key ideas

• Parental love and dedication
• Emotional vulnerability
• Separation and reunion
• Memory and time
• Loss and acceptance