Harold and Brandon

About the Book

The poem Harold and Brandon is all about a father and a son. Harold, the father, is English and has moved during the 1950s to New Zealand, where he married Melanie, a New Zealand woman and his wife. Harold and Melanie are the father and mother of Brandon, a young New Zealand boy who is also half English. The theme of the poem starts with Brandon saying how they will take a tea break and with Harold saying next how they will also take a smoke of a cigarette as they are in the kitchen at breakfast. The poem goes through many themes of life—what life is for both Harold and Brandon as well as for the wife and mother, Melanie. Finally, there is the death of Harold, and the poem touches well on his passing away.

About the Author