Poems

What is Limbo and what does it suggest?

It's Catholic. It's a place between heaven and hell. It is also a ship exercise to keep healthy. It is also the triumph of life over death.

It could symbolise slaves being transported from Africa = heaven, to Plantation = hell.

"On the burning ground."

What could this reference? What themes are portrayed?

This is a reference to the liberation of slaves.

The themes shown are; pain/suffering/anger.

"No sing says it is: but we know where we belong."

What does this suggest?

It suggests that whites are more powerful and it shows that the poet is slightly resentful of the seperation.

"for a stone, a bomb, to shiver down the glass."

What does this suggest about the poet's feelings towards the subject?

It suggests that the poet is feeling quite angry, we can tell this because of the violent imagery.

"of his small emerald island"

what does the colour 'emerald' suggest?

Emerald is a lush green colour which symbolises the tropical island he used to live on. Also, an emerald is a precious gem and could suggest that the island is precious to him as a gem is precious to others.

"the stead breaking and wombing"

Wombing isn't a real word, so why has the poet used it?

The poet used the word wombing because it is an onometopia. It is quite a calm word which suggests that the island is rythmatic and nurturing.

"the voice of a kindly god."

The word God should start with a capital, suggest a reason why it is written without.

It could mean that there is more than one God. However, it is more likely that they have lost respect for him.

"..for streets around butts in, with pots, brass, copper, aluminium, plasitc buckets, frantic hands, and naked children..."

What does this suggest about the town?

It suggests that the town is quite desperate which is why they are clearly very frantic. The poem is written with a lot of commas making the poem fast past which symbolises the town.

What does this poem show?

This poems shows the unfairness in democracy. The seperation between different classes are portrayed here as unneccessary.

"And the two Scavengers up since four a.m..."

What does this qoute say about the scavengers?

It shows that the are jealous. It also portrays irony as their truck is higher than the mercedes but in society they are viewed as lower down.

"giant scorpian shadows.."

What does this suggest about real life?

It could suggest that small things can have a huge impact.

"My father, sceptic, rationalist, trying every curse and blessing, powder, mixture, herb and hybrid"

What does this suggest about the father?

It suggests that he is very desperate becuase he doesn't believe in these things but he is willing to try them right now.

"Praise bounteous providence if you will that grants even an ogre.. kindred love is lodged the perpetuity of evil."

What does this symbolise?

It symbolises yin and yang.

"When bombs smashed those mirrors there was time only to scream"

What does this symbolise?

The bomb smashed the reflection of the paddy fields.

It could symbolise their culture being destroyed like the bomb. It wont ever be the same again like the broken pieces of the mirror.

"All the bones were charred"

What do the colours represented in this qoute show?

It shows death. For example, the bones go from white to dark. From strong to damaged.

"Im sure youll understand why I offer yu half-a-hand.. an I will tell yu de other half of my story"

What does this qoute show?

This qoute shows how ridiculous racism is. He is not really half a person so it is showing racism in a humourous way but still as a serious issue.

The poet mentions famous artists mixing colours, why do you think he has done this?

He does this to show how they mixed colours to create something positive. It is the same with people.

How are colours represented in the poem?

There is the 'peacock-blue" which represents the rain in england which contrasts with the "orange split open" which could represent the Pakistan sun.

"Candy-striped glass bangles snapped.."

What could the snapping of the bangles symbolise?

They could symbolise how her links with Pakistan have broken just like her bangle.