emigree Flashcards
“I left it as a child”
She was forced to leave her home-country when she was younger.
In her past memories she appears to be alone. Highlighted by the repeated use of the pronoun “I.”
It is her personal experience and opinion of her city, it appears that many see it as a war zone
“There once was a country” “May be at war”
She feels like she has lost her city, due to the war that has thrown it into chaos.
“The worst news I receive of it cannot break my original view”
All her memories are of positive aspects of her country, she refuses to believe any other stories she may have been told.
“City of walls”
She feels isolated and alone in the new city she is living in.
She is restricted by the “walls.”
“It may be at war, it may be sick with tyrants”
Use of the word “sick” highlights how conflict damages both the city and the people living there.
It may be different to when she left it, she feels it has been infected by war not destroyed, gives the impression that it can be healed and returned to its original state.
However, she still loves her city whatever state it is in now, this is because she knows how beautiful and wonderful it can be and she doesn’t want to lose those memories.
Key themes and ideas
Memory, separation, childhood and identify and place are in this poem. Therefore, it could be linked to the prelude, poppies and London
