Somewhere Along The Line - Simon Artimage Flashcards
Somewhere Along The Way- Simon Artimage
You met me to apologise, you were saying
as we waited in the drizzle for the slow train
When it focused in we said goodbye and we kissed
and from the window you were caught; teary and fixed.
You ran across the wooden bridge, I knew you would,
to get down on the other platform and to wave,
but as you did the eastbound Leeds train flickered past
and ran you like a movie through its window-frames.
I keep those animated moments of you as
our catalogue of changes rushed and chances missed.
Summary of the poem Somewhere along the line.
The poem describes a farewell at a train station, capturing a moment of parting and the emotional intensity that accompanies it.
One language device.
The poet uses vivid imagery and metaphors to depict the scene and emotions. Phrases like “waited in the drizzle” and “teary and fixed” convey the melancholic atmosphere.
Another language device.
The metaphor of the “eastbound Leeds train flickered past / and ran you like a movie through its window-frames” creates a visual image of the fleeting moment and the sense of separation.
One structure device
The poem consists of three quatrains with a consistent ABAB rhyme scheme, which provides a rhythmic structure that mirrors the regularity of train travel and the inevitability of the parting.
Another Structure device.
The enjambment between lines contributes to the sense of continuity and the flow of time, reflecting the ongoing nature of separation.
Emotional Impact 1
The poem captures the bittersweet moment of saying goodbye, highlighting both the sadness of parting and the lingering memory of the loved one.
Emotional Impact 2
The final lines, “I keep those animated moments of you as / our catalogue of changes rushed and chances missed,” emphasize the significance of memories in the face of separation and the sense of missed opportunities.
