Mother, Any Distance Book

Question 1

“ mother

Answer 1

He addresses her directly. The poem is like a personal message to her.

Question 2

Single span

Answer 2

Language about measurement a single span is the distance between his stretched hands. He needs two people to help measure anything larger than this suggesting his mother is supporting him and is still important to him.

Question 3

Doors and floors, hands and span

Answer 3

Is a form of rhyming doors and fools rhymes but handsome and span only this shows a dislocation between him and his mother

Question 4

The acres of the walls, the prairies of the floor

Answer 4

Metaphor and language about measurement metaphor and hyperbole great images of vast open space hunting adventure expiration also suggests he feels daunted

Question 5

Zero end

Answer 5

Gives imagery about the holding start of a tape measure that could stand for the time when he was first born

Question 6

Unreeling years

Answer 6

Language about measurement could represent their shared history but enjambment imitate how they’re crossing a new phase of their relationship of the sun moving houses away from his mother

Question 7

Anchor kite

Answer 7

Gives imagery that he is a kite starting to fly and his ankle is his mother who keeps trying to keep him secured the one word sentences below the pace of the poem suggesting he feels apprehensive and thoughtful. The kite is like the Sun moving away and the car is holding the kite a bit it’s his mother not wanting to let go of him.

Question 8

Your fingertips still pinch

Answer 8

Is language about measurement the use of the word pinch? Suggest how desperately she doesn’t want to let him go however they also suggest paying if he doesn’t let him go she’ll hurt him.

Question 9

The last 100th of an inch…

Answer 9

… Could reflect how the tape is being stretched out or it could suggest that his mother finally let’s go over the tape

Question 10

endless sky

Answer 10

He feels there’s no limit to opportunities open him they can’t imagine the rules that him and his mother are measuring his optimistic and contrast to the uncertainty of the final line to fall or fly

Question 11

To fall or fly

Answer 11

Is language about the movement but imagery suggest hatching and flying the nurse is breaking free for this month’s protection but doesn’t succeed without security line has to give and fall or fly emphasises this message of the Sun moving out of the nest