From Long Distance

Question 1

Summarise the poem

Answer 1

The speakers dad continued to do things for his dead wife but then the speaker himself started to do this when his dad died.

Question 2

How and why does the speakers perspective of grief change in the final stanza?

Answer 2

The speaker expresses that he believes that death is just death and that there is no afterlife but contradicts this when he still calls the “disconnected number” of his now dead father.

Question 3

Why might have Harrison written this poem?

Answer 3

To criticise the expectations that society has for grieving

Question 4

How does Harrison make the poem so moving?

Answer 4

-By using informal, everyday language to create such a relatable picture
-Eg. “popped out” suggests the dad thought his wife wouldn’t be gone for long.
-“as though his still raw love were such a crime” suggests that the wound of death is still fresh and painful.
-Also implies that the dad is ashamed
-“and the disconnected number I still call” almost brings a full circle to the poem. The speaker now acts like his dad once did for his wife
-Now the speaker call empathise with him
-To explore the conflict that the head and heart experience during grief.