I am very bothered" by Simon Armitage, "I wouldn't thank you for a Valentine" by Liz Lochhead and "First Ice" by Andrei Voznesensky are poems where the poet uses different styles of writing.

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From the poetry you have studied on the theme of love consider how three different poets have revealed their attitudes and experiences through their writing.

As long as there has been poetry there has been ‘love’ poetry. Many poets express their feelings through their writing, therefore many poets write about love and other emotions and feelings attached to it. Different poets have different styles of writing, so approach that particular subject in different ways. “I am very bothered” by Simon Armitage, “I wouldn’t thank you for a Valentine” by Liz Lochhead and “First Ice” by Andrei Voznesensky are poems where the poet uses different styles of writing.

        “I am very bothered.” By Simon Armitage is a confessional monologue. The poet is reflecting on past events, he is addressing a woman he loved as a teenager.

        The poet does not use a rhyming pattern, but instead uses an irregular pattern in three blocks, possibly because he wants the reader to concentrate on what he has to say, as it is important to him. He uses a personal, narrative style to express his feelings, leading to his final admission:

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        “If you would marry me.”

although he claims that’s not what he wanted to say by saying, “Don’t believe me,” he wants to make a better impression, to show he can say how he feels without having to hurt or scar her.

        The poet uses images associated with burning; he describes in graphic detail what happened. Not only does the poet give a clear picture, he also makes you see what he sees and smell what he smells, “unrivalled stench.” The burning possibly symbolises his desire for her. The two rings marked on her fingers, “for eternity,” symbolises marriage and ...

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