Writing of Duffy and Pugh
Both Duffy and Pugh write about being young and the experience of growing up in their poetry. They are both concerned and interested in the journey from childhood to adulthood, however may have their own individual views and concerns over the experience of childhood. Firstly, Duffy’s poem, ‘Lizzie, Six’ describes a little girl being abused. It could be interpreted here that Duffy is expressing her concerns over the corruption of innocence a child may face during childhood. She may be conveying that some children are forced to grow up too quickly, and as a severe consequence are unable to enjoy the simplicity of childhood. This idea may be reflected in the structure of her poem as it has a narrative, story-telling concept, and one could argue that it is very similar to the structure of a nursery rhyme, which holds connotations of innocence and fun. However, this poem has a corrupting underlying message and the innocence of the nursery rhyme could be corrupted by the severe actions of the abuser. The stanzas are also in quatrains, which once again is very simplistic, unlike the childhood the little girl is living. Pugh considers how children are often forced to grow up too quickly. In her poem, ‘M.S.A’, ‘tumbling like puppies towards death’ shows to a reader how innocence can be taken advantage of. The image of ‘tumbling’ is very innocent and the word ‘tumbling’ holds connotations of fun, which, in a similar way to Duffy, Pugh may be stating that us how childhood should be.
