Poppies

Question 1

what is it about

Answer 1

• the poet describes saying goodbye to her son before he goes off to war. she pins a poppy to his lapel and puts on a brave face.
• she reminisces about when her son was little and longs for those occasions.
• the son is apparently excited about leaving
• the mother, later on, follows a dove to the churchyard where she leans against the war memorial and longs for the sound of her sons laughter.

Question 2

form, structure and context

Answer 2

• the poem is written in free verses. there is no organisation to a rhyme scheme.
• the stanzas are of varying lengths some with causea and enjambment used throughout. this could reflect the chaotic structure of the poem and the effect of conflict on those people left behind.
• the poem has a clear, chronological structure. three days before the son leaves, moments before the son leaves, after he’s gone, later that day or week and where the mother finds herself at the present time.
• the poem was part of a collection about war called Exit Wounds, put together by the current poet laureate, carol Ann Duffy.

Question 3

key quotes

Answer 3

• three days before armistice Sunday
• cripple petals, spasms of red paper
• steeled the softening of my face
• play at being Eskimos
• gelled blackthorn of your hair
• you were away, intoxicated
• released a song bird from its cage
• my stomach busy making tucks, darts, pleats
• hoping to hear your playground voice

Question 4

language and themes

Answer 4

• weir used lots of domestic language and juxtaposes this is military images
• there is a sense of freedom and excitement from the sons perspective, this is in contrast with the feeling of loss and pain that the mother experiences
• the door, the song bird, and the dove all have symbolic meaning

Question 5

What poems can you do a comparison with conflict, loss and absence and identity in

Answer 5

• kamikaze
• war photographer
• the emigree
• remains