The way my mother speaks Flashcards
“I say her phrases to myself in my head”.
The use of the word “I “immediately establishes the personal, reflective nature of the poem. The fact the speaker thinks of her mother, suggests a close bond that brings comfort to the speaker. Indicating the influence her mother had on her (she is a part of her). The possessive ‘her’ suggests the words belong to her mother but they are part of her.
“Restful shapes moving. The day and ever. The day and ever.”
The word choice and repetition of “ever” shows the importance of this journey, which will last forever and the repetition shows the rhythm of the traveling train and the sound of the train, suggesting that she’s using her mother’s words to calm herself. Restful suggests her mood is peaceful, and relaxing. The words “restful” and “moving” contradict each other, giving the idea that you are still on the train while the world is moving past you from the windows. The word “moving” shows the poets feeling that her phrases and this journey is emotionally moving for her. It could also potentially mean the memories she’s leaving behind.
“The train this slow evening goes down England”.
The speaker describes the train journey in more detail and sets the time. The use of the word choice “slow” has connotations of sluggish leisurely and long-winded, suggesting that the speaker feels as though the train journey is long, unhurried, and drawn-out. The long journey gives the speaker time to reflect.
“Browsing for the right sky, too blue swapped for a cool grey.”
The word choice “browsing” has connotations of searching or looking which shows the poet trying to find a place that is right for her. “Browsing” also suggests that the train hasn’t decided where to go as the poet isn’t sure of her destination, like the idea of a young person leaving home trying things and looking for a place in life. “The right sky” suggests she’s still trying to find a life that suits her. “Too blue” and “cool grey” contrasts. “Too blue” has connotations of calm and clear skies and “cool grey” symbolizes a lack of hope or happiness suggesting her uncertainty about the future. The move from the color suggests a change from day to night in the journey and the transition from childhood to adulthood.
“What like is it”
Duffy introduces another of her mother’s phrases. Emphasizing the effect her mother had on her, as well as their close bond.
“The way I say things when I think”.
Contrast - the way the speaker thinks and acts is different. Links to the idea of identity/roots/background. Her mother’s words come to her when she ‘thinks’, which suggests that her inner voice is closely linked to her mother’s. This shows just how much of an effect her mother had on her development: she is still in her thought process.
“Nothing is silent. Nothing is not silent”.
Here the repetition of “nothing” connects the two short sentences. The double negative in the second implies that what doesn’t exist in the here and now (your memories, your past) still has a voice in your head. It still has an influence. The word choice “nothing” has connotations of negative feelings, loss, hesitancy, and confusion. Sense the speaker realizes that they do not need to be abandoned roots/reluctant to forget her mother and their past.
“Only tonight I am happy and sad like a child who stood at the end of summer and dipped a net in a green, erotic pond.”
“only” suggests this is a singular experience. An idea that this transition/Journey is a once in a lifetime experience. Comparing the speaker to a child. She compares her feelings to those of a child transitioning from childhood to adulthood to the change of seasons. It is the “end of summer” which links back to her switching the “to blue” sky for “cool grey”. The Theme of transition and childhood is explored here as the delight and innocence of childhood is ending. There is a Contrast conflicting/uncertain in emotions. On the one hand she is sad to be leaving her mother behind, perhaps a sense of loss of childhood. However, there is a sense of positivity about what her future may hold. Classic image of a child by the frog pond, but this time it is a “green, erotic pond”. There is a slight contradiction here as “green” has connotations of naivety while “erotic” connotes a more adult theme. Nostalgia for the world of childhood but new world of adulthood offers unexplored possibilities. Could perhaps be a metaphor for her searching through her memories from childhood but only remembering little snatches and fragments like casting and net and catching only small fish or insects.
“I am homesick, free, in love with the way my mother speaks.”
The poet is homesick for her childhood, past, her mother but she is also free to establish a new identity and move forward. This confirms the immense love the speaker has for their mother. She is pleased to have such a bond with her past. She loves that in this “slow evening” her mother’s voice comes back to her and will continue to in the future.
