Poppies Flashcards
(14 cards)
Symbolism
The poppy has a symbolic links to violence, death and memory
Blockade
Military reference to blocking, perhaps of emotion
Love and Family
The poem is full of warmth and care, showings a mothers love
“I pinned one onto your lapel, crimpled petals”
She’s gently fixing hid uniform, showing a loving, caring moment before he leaves
Loss and Grief
The mother feels a deep sense of loss, even though her son hasn’t officially died
“the world overflowing like a treasure chest”
Suggests how overwhelming her emotions are as he walks away
“I traced the inscriptions on the war memorial”
She’s visiting places that remind her of him, showing how much she misses him
War and its effects at home
The poem shows that war doesn’t only affect those who fight - It also affects their families
“Sellotape bandaged around my hand”
Suggests pain and damaged felt by the mother, even at home
Memory and remembrance
The poem moves between the past and the present, showing how memories stay with her
“play at being Eskimos like we did when you were little”
A sweet memory of his childhood, showing how quickly things have changed
Bravery and Sacrifice
The son is brave for going to war, and the mother is brave for letting him go
“I was brave, as I walked with you, to the front door”
The mother’s bravery is emotional, not physical but just as real5
“flattened, rolled, turned”
Power of three, reflects the way the mother is tongue tied and doesn’t know what to say, she is proud of her son but also doesn’t want him to go
