The Way My Mother Speaks Flashcards
“I say her phrases to myself in my head”
Word Choice
In the first two lines of this poem we can already identify that this poem is about Duffy’s personal experience, the use of words suggests that Duffy is not with her mother hence has nostalgia of remembering how she speaks.
“shallows of my breath,”
Metaphor
Duffy misses hearing the words of her mother as they remind her of being at home in Scotland.
“The day and ever. The day and ever.”
Repetition
Duffy repeats her mothers phrases as a memory of her, as her mothers language is a very important part of the pairs relationship, and she always want to remember it.
“browsing for the right sky,”
Word Choice
The use of words here indicate that the speaker is searching for the place that they belong to find their true self.
“too blue swapped for a cool grey.”
Word Choice
As Duffy is on the train the sky seems to be changing for a happy blue to a dull, miserable grey, this suggests that she feels more comfortable in Scotland.
“What like is it’…‘What like is it.”
Repetition
Duffy’s mother has had such an impact on her that she finds it necessary to repeat her mothers Scottish dialect as if she still has her Scottish identity.
“Nothing is silent. Nothing is not silent.”
Repetition
Duffy repeats ‘Nothing’ to emphasises the loss in her identity, she needs to speak out loud to remember her Scottish heritage.
“I am happy and sad like a child”
Simile
This links Duffy to her transition out of childhood as she is now more confident about moving on, she is still connected to her family but is embracing the future.
“end of summer and dipped a net”
Word Choice
The words used symbolise Duffy’s change, as she transitions into adulthood she begins to experiment and try new things.
“erotic pond.”
Metaphor
As the speaker grows up they begin to explore their sexuality in more depth.
“The day and ever. The day and ever.”
Repetition
The enjambment here indicates that Duffy forgot the way her mother spoke so needs to continue to remind her self as she changes.
“I am homesick, free, in love with the way my mother speaks.”
List/Repetition
Duffy misses her family but still has the memories so thinks positively of moving on with her life but still remains remembering her mothers language.
