At the beginning of stanza two an important word is used ‘Flickering ‘it is used as onomatopoeia. The word flicker instantly reminds us of fast clicks. It is followed by ‘knots like television’. She gives an image of fast moving thread like the images on a television screen. In this line she uses a simile to give us that feeling of the children working very hard and looming quickly. “As the garden of Islam grows, the bench will be raised”. This line introduces religion into the children’s lives. It adds more information to the children and gives us an idea of what their religion could be “Islam”. The carpets which they weave have scenes from the gardens in Islam.
Stanza three tells us what happens to the carpets which the children make. That once finished it will go to the merchant’s truck to be sold most probably at a mosque (religious temple). Once again religion is mentioned emphasizing on its importance in the lives of the children. The carpets which they weave will give comfort and pleasure to those who look at it. As line three says “Deep and soft, it will give when heaped with prayer”. Another language technique is used, personification.
Carol gives us more insight into the lives of the children in stanza four. The first line is powerful and very emotional as she finds common ground with the readers and the children. She mentions that “the children are hard at work in the school of days”. It means that the children do not go to school, that their only school is the hard work they do at the factory. It could also show some kinds of exploitation, for the beautiful carpets which they weave little money is given back to them. This adds emotion and enhances the readers connection with the poem, they will show sympathy for the children who are not given the opportunity to an education.
Line two indicates that the children’s small fingers are putting in color to whatever they make and all that ever will be is carpet. Nothing else, their creativity is based around carpets therefore it shows that they will probably have no future.
“All- that- will- be” are strengthening words, used to enforce strength and power. “And freeze into the frame of all- that- was”. She uses another language technique, Fly and freeze are alliterations and again the three last words are used for power. It means that the things the children weave or make will be carpet and that their future is ensured in weaving carpets. It is quite dark and sad as it symbolizes confinement and loss.
