The relationship in the poem ‘Nettles’ is between father and son. In the poem, Scannell’s son falls into “a bed of nettles” and is hurt physically by the stings which cause blisters “on his tender skin”. The poet however, is affected mentally as he realises that he is unable to save his son from the dangers that the world represents.
The poem is structured in one single stanza of 16 lines which is reminiscent of a sonnet, often a love poem. The love in this poem is of a father who is trying to protect his son but who realises the futility of this. Every other line rhymes in this poem which has the effect of making the poem seem more intense as the rhyme is not overly obvious. It is also written in the first person which makes it seem so much more personal, “my son,” “I saw” etc.