I think that the whole poem focuses mainly on sudden interruptions because from each paragraph is a different age section of her life. You can also see by the poem that as each paragraph develops, the way it is written and the style of wording develops, as if the child is becoming increasingly mature and adult-like. The Childs vulnerability is shown in verse two by using such words as “big boys eating worms and shouting words you didn’t understand” perhaps this is hinting that maybe the ‘big boys’ who were eating worms were swearing or saying words which she was too young to have come across. The last word in verse two is italicised because the narrator (who is a daughter) is speaking and it also shows that she is missing where she used to live as a child.
In verse three, the child is less vulnerable now she has settled in because she is now used to everything. “But then you forget” this shows that now the narrator has lived for quite a few years, she tends to forget her past easier. The narrator now speaks in a comforted tone and gives away the idea of being a lot more worried about life in general as compared to when she was younger and slightly unsure about moving. Now that she has fitted in well, she now understands how it feels like to be part of their community. The change is compared to the shedding of a snake’s skin. They are compared with each other because it is in conjunction with her voice changing i.e. maybe she has changed language or they use a different accent. Or simply her voice could have just changed with age. Now that she is used to the changes, she feels as if she has completely lost her old voice “I lost a river, culture, speech, sense of first space” This could potentially be a good or bad thing but we assume it is for good because she prefers being accepted and fitting in when she didn’t think she would ever.
The person created in the poem, we could comfortably say that it is a girl, even though no evidence backs up this statement. I assume by reading between the lines that she is around the age of 8-12 because on the journey, she sees thing not as clearly as adults do. “My voice in the classroom sounding just like the rest” This also shows that she is a school pupil so she must be fairly young. The setting in the poem is created by the feelings shown by the young girl. “Fell through the fields” This shows that they used to live in the country side, but they moved to a rural area where flats and estates can be found “Pebble-dashed estates” So maybe the girl is unsure of the area when she realises that where she is moving to is a lot more busy and lively.
The use of 3 verses is a very good idea for several reasons. For one, it defines the maturing of her age, which is put across using methods such as different tones of voice, and more complex metaphors and sentences. The whole poem could be mapped out as journey. The first verse demonstrates the beginning of her life and when the family move. Second verse indicating the actual journey, and the becoming older stage, whilst trying to get used to moving. With the last verse when she has settled in her new area, and it has a quote on the last line which demonstrates her socialising with her friends, and seems to have fitted in really well.
By Scott Stoneham
