A visual representation of "Contrast" by Tammy Ho
CERESIA Gaia
Maryknoll Convent School (Secondary Section)
The poem is about welcoming changes, as well as accepting and embracing ageing. The father, who is old in my artwork, has grey hair and wrinkles all over his face. He is holding a yellow plastic box, which is used for storing his plucked grey hairs. To him, the yellow box is a reminder of his age and old appearance.
In the drawing, I captured the moment that he is setting the hairs free. It is a metaphor for letting go of his shame and embarrassment caused by ageing. He now even embraces it and rests his grandchild on his back. This shows his transition from being ashamed of growing old to the pride of being a grandfather.
Contrast
He asked me to put the hairs
in a small yellow box. It was plastic,
with a catch at the front that clicked
when closed.
Every Sunday, I looked carefully
at my father’s head
and plucked out the grey hairs
that hid sneakily
among the robust black ones.
He gave me twenty cents for each strand
until one day, a few years later,
the box was full
and there were still so many more to pluck.
Overcome with sadness, I said,
‘Father, I don’t want the money.’
He then began dyeing his hair
and in the bathroom sink every week
drips of black water
revealed that father was clawing
back his youth.
Fifteen years later, he
has stopped dyeing his hair,
worried that the chemicals
might harm his grandchildren
whom he often rests
on his shoulders,
proud now
to highlight the contrast.
Tammy Ho
“Contrast” first appeared in the Asia Literary Review: https://www.asialiteraryreview.com/contrast. Reprinted with permission by the poet.