Keeping Orchids - Key Quotes Flashcards
“some of the buds remain closed as secrets”
This is a similie - gives the idea of concealment/a mystery
“like a baby in a shawl”
Suggests cars and protection.
“All the broken waters”
Reference to birth. Also choppy water, a disturbance.
“upset orchids with troubled hands”
transferred epithet - it reflects the speakers feelings
“the closed ones did not open out”
This suggests that her mother also did not open up to her.
“The skin/ shut like an eye in the dark”
“the skin” - not petals but the mother - Lack of understanding.
“the closed lid”
whatever she knows she is not telling - idea of cutting something of or containing it.
“they hang their heads”
The speaker wants to know why she was givin up. The mother may feel guilt/ shame about this. Could be the orchids.
“Boiling water makes flowers live longer. So does/ cutting the stems with a sharp knife”
Although adoption was painful it was the right thing to do. Making the flowers last because she wants to hold onto some connection with her birth mother.
“from her train station to mine, then home”
They live far apart. There is an idea of separation/distance between speaker and birth mother
“Her face is fading fast.”
illiteration - her memory of the visit is fading, emphasises loss of connection.
“Even her voice rushes/through a tunnel the other way from home.”
Train imagery - the 2 people who met are now moving away from each other.
Main Themes?
- Passage of time
- Defining life moment
- Secrets and discoveries
- Parent/child/family relationship
