The tone of the poem is affectionate. This is shown in the first word, `Mother'. If the son and his mother weren't so close he would have called her by her name as some do as they near independence. The poem also centres on the theme of success and failure; `to fall or fly'. The writer is uncertain whether growing further apart with his mother would mean a higher success in life or failure.
The poet uses significant words like zero; base and anchor all in the same stanza and these words are quite alike as they are all low, negative, sort of bottom like words. Armitage also creates considerable ambiguity in the metaphors he chooses. For instance he describes his mother holding the "zero-end" of the tape. This could suggest that she was there at the start of his life and has been there since then, helping him. However it could also mean that she is at the end of his life with her and that her time with him has ran out.
The poem explores the emotional connection of mother and child. The tape measure becomes a metaphor for this. Now the child is ready to let go, but is unsure whether he can succeed on his own. The reeling out of the tape is like the passing of the years - and the poet compares it to other kinds of line. Perhaps his mother is an anchor and he is a kite - this may bring security but may also limit his freedom to fly and the kite can be interpreted as flying to success, but the reel holding it can be portrayed as being held by his mother, holding him down from going further. Yet another image of attachment comes in the suggestion that the poet is space-walking - the phrase is a pun, as he is also walking through the “empty” space of the bedroom also it has connotations of care and fear of the unknown now that he is no longer with his mother and no longer has him to keep him from sinking. However it could also mean exploration and enthusiasm of the further world without his mother holding him back. The “last one hundredth of an inch” marks the limit of the tape measure - beyond this; the speaker has to let go (or break the tape).
The conclusion of the poem is open to two or more interpretations, but reflects a real experience most of us undergo, not knowing whether independence is a chance for us to thrive or to fail. The mother's fingertips “still pinch” - she has come to help the child measure up, but now may be reluctant at the last to let go. Eventually he reaches the limit of the tape - as he looks at an open hatch, opening on an “endless sky”. He imagines himself passing through this - “to fall or fly”. When the poet uses this phrase it is like the son is entering a new phase of his life and leaving childhood behind him or you could even say finally he is getting some freedom. Overall this poem explores the mother/son relationship by going through the different stages in life between a mother and child and sort of explains them step by step eventually ending up with the child leaving and becoming an adult.
