mother any distance greater

2 types of language

language about measurement - measurements and distances are an EXTENDED METAPHOR in this poem. They represent the poets changing relationship with his mother. Once close now becoming more distant

"the acres of the walls, the prairies of the floors" without his mother even the walls seem daunting

"the last one - hundredth of an inch" shes now only a small part on his life

language about movement - walking through his house is like exploring…