Poppies

Question 1

Poem summary

Answer 1

Poppies” is a poem that explores a mother’s emotional experience as her son goes off to war. The poem is written from the mother’s perspective, capturing her feelings of love, loss, and grief. It begins with memories of her son’s childhood and moves to the moment he leaves for the military. Throughout the poem, the mother reflects on the pain of separation and the fear for her son’s safety. The imagery of poppies—traditional symbols of remembrance—connects personal loss with the broader theme of war’s impact on families. The poem ends with the mother feeling a deep, unresolved sorrow

Question 2

Context

Answer 2

Jane Weir is a British poet and artist who wrote “Poppies” to explore the personal side of war, focusing on the experiences of those left behind.

The poem connects to the tradition of wearing poppies on Remembrance Day, which honors soldiers who died in war.

Unlike many war poems that focus on the battlefield, “Poppies” looks at the emotional toll on family members, especially mothers.

Question 3

“the world overflowing like a treasure chest”

Answer 3

The simile compares the world to a treasure chest overflowing, suggesting that the speaker’s memories of her son’s childhood are full of joy, excitement, and limitless possibilities.

Question 4

“the dove pulled freely against the sky”

Answer 4

The dove traditionally symbolizes peace, but here it also represents the son, who has been released—either to freedom, adulthood, or possibly death.
The act of the dove pulling away suggests the mother’s emotional struggle to let go.

The dove moves “freely,” yet pulls against the sky, suggesting that although the son is free to go, the separation is painful

Question 5

i listened hoping to hear your playground voice catching on the wind