Poppies by Jane Weir Flashcards
“spasms of red paper,”
The metaphor links to pain and the suffering of soldiers.
The imagery creates a clear image of suffering in the readers head emphasising the emotion the mother is feeling.
(Stanza One)
“blockade // of yellows bias binding around you blazer.”
The word, “blockade” links back to the military suggesting that the mother has a blockade of emotions.
“blazer” links back to school suggesting the last time her son went away was school.
(Stanza One)
“Sellotape bandaged around my hand”
The semantic field of war and injury.
This shows the mother is trying to fix the sadness of him leaving.
(Stanza Two)
“run my finger through the gelled blackthorns of your hair”
The metaphor shows the harshness of what is to come, this links back to the bible with Jesus being sacrificed, which shows what her mum feels about her son is a sacrifice for the contraries peace.
(Stanza Two)
“overflowing// like a treasure chest.”
This suggests that she is overwhelmed.
Stanza Three
“released a song bird from its cage.”
Her son she views as innocent and fragile, and has now released him into the world.
(Stanza Three)
“leaned against it like a wishbone.”
This implies that she wishes that he was here and is listening to superstitions to wish him back.
(Stanza Four)
“The dove pulled freely against the sky”
This shows the mothers hope for peace.
This also could be a signal that her son is dead.
(Stanza Four)
What tense has Weir used and why?
She has used 1st person to make it more personal.
