This shows that his words are more natural than the words she writes. He writes to her about his day to day life and she romanticises it by describing it as "air and light".
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"breaking ice" "clearing a path"
Description of mundane, physical tasks shows how he sees his life as ordinary, but also reiterates his connection with nature.
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"across the icy miles"
Communication brings them together, despite the distance between them. Describing this distance as "icy" suggests that she dislikes being so far away from him.
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"souls"
The use of the word "souls" has a sense of spiritual language, this shows they have a deep and meaningful connection.
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"knuckles singing"
Use of caesura shifts the focus from his ordinary actions to personification. The personification shows the delight he feels.
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"blank screen"
The computer shows the contrast between their lifestyles and professions, "blank screen" sounds lifeless and empty compared to his "singing" knuckles.
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Narrative
The narrator talks about how they still speak to a friend living in the rural area and reminisces about living in the countryside. It shows a connection a person and a place can be maintained through words.
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Context
The poet lived in Yorkshire for three years. The actual relationship is unimportant and irrelevant in the poem, it is about the narrator's connection with their rural lifestyle.
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Form
The poem is written in free verse, which makes the poem flow like natural speech or a letter. Enjambment allows lines and stanzas to flow into each other, this continuous movement reflects the way the seasons are constantly changing.
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Form 2
The use of three line stanzas instead of an even number of lines makes the poem look disjointed, this reflects how the narrator feels disconnected from the man.
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Structure
In the first three stanzas, the narrator shows how she and the man live different lives. Despite this, it becomes clear in the final two stanzas that they have a deep connection.
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Physical Verbs
A series of active verbs ("digging" "planting") describe the letter writer's physical work in his garden. They are ordinary but satisfying actions that emphasises his connection with nature.
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Contrasts
The narrator presents her lifestyle as different to the letter writer's, he works outside, while she works inside. Whilst he sees his life as ordinary, she romanticises it and sees her own life as inferior.
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Language about Communication
Communication bridges the distance between them and emphasises the things they have in common. Figurative language suggests their connection is almost spiritual.
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Author
Maura Dooley
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Other cards in this set
Card 2
Front
"breaking ice" "clearing a path"
Back
Description of mundane, physical tasks shows how he sees his life as ordinary, but also reiterates his connection with nature.
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