Having negative feelings towards a family member is often difficult to deal with. A person may disagree with the actions of a family member; however, they are still related. This struggle is illustrated in the poem My Father by James Berry. The speaker of the poem talks about his feelings of resentment towards his father. Berry uses a list-like structure, contrasting ideas as well as imagery to describe the speaker/son's negative feelings towards his father. Throughout the poem, the speaker responds to his father's actions by describing his feelings. A coherent structure, with the exception of the third stanza, is found in the poem. The speaker almost seems to be creating a list of causes and effects. Berry's choice to begin each stanzaThe father is consistent in carrying out actions with which the son disagrees; resulting in feelings such as “rage” or “unmoved.” The word “for” also distinguishes between the cause and effect of each point. Each stanza begins with “for,” which is immediately followed by an action of the father; this can be considered the “cause”. The “effect” is then manifested each time the speaker states that “he [the father] did…”. Additionally, the effect expresses the son's reactions or feelings. For example, in the fourth stanza, “to expect my mother to earn money like food…he made us lose our minds.” The father expects so much from the mother that the children “all become impassive”. This list-like quality is reinforced by the lack of punctuation in the poem. In James Berry's poem, there are also many strong contrasts that help readers better understand the father's character. Early on, the speaker first describes his father as “so black, so muscular, so well-curved.” This image of a man implies that he works a physically exhausting job that requires a lot of time outdoors. At first reading this description, one might believe that the son is praising the father. However, Berry immediately contrasts by describing the father as "a trim showman, too fit for everyday wear for bare feet." This statement turns the whole idea on its head and paints a picture of a man too proud to even walk barefoot. This changes the tone of the initial description to mocking and sardonic. This contrast between a physical, practical man and an arrogant “showman” is further emphasized in the third stanza. Rather than working outside in the fields, the father “sits all day in the tall grass, speaking softly, with weak jaws.” The father's lack of activity contrasts once again with the mother's trying to "earn money like food and clothes and be the sum of all matters." These contrasts highlight the arrogance and pride of the father in the eyes of the son. The speaker shows how much he despises his father for his good qualities and also expresses sympathy towards his mother. Additionally, there is a contrast between the man the father appears to be in society and