The poet makes use literary devices such as assonance, the repetition in vowel sounds when mentioning “a creel of eels” in line six of stanza two. Upon closer observation, it is noticeable that the poet uses “snug as a bud” instead of the original “snug as a bug”. This could be due to the word “jug” at the end of the sentence in the line below. If the word “bug” had not been altered, there would have been internal rhyming.
In this poem, it is notable that the poet often uses food. This might reflect a pregnant woman’s tendency to have the quirkiest food cravings but also, the types of food fit in the flow of the poem. “My little loaf” for example, could stand for having a bun in the oven. The use of the word “my” makes it sound especially protective, a sense of motherly protection is picked up. The choice of a “loaf” possibly represents substance. The words “high-riser” could be the poet having expectations for her unborn child or simply reference to the rising of her stomach and the growing love she is fostering for her unborn child each day. The mention of a “turnip” also carries some significance. As a root vegetable, it grows from the ground and does not make a sound. At least, none that is audible to our human ears. Hence, the embryo is similar in this way as it is silent inside the mother’s womb. “Jumpy as a Mexican Bean” probably refers to how the baby would start kicking from the inside causing her stomach to jump.
Furthermore, in addition to the mentioning of edible plants, there is also the constant use of sea creatures. The simile “gilled like a fish” is probably used because neither babies nor fish breathe through lungs. In a fish’s case, it would be through gills. The line “like a sprat in a pickle jar” bears quite the contrast. A tiny fried fish among pickles, it is as though she sees the foetus as a fish – possibly influenced by the size, among her other insides. The foetus is like the sprat, so tiny compared to her body – the pickle jar. Maybe she even thinks that the shape of her figure resembles that of a pickle jar. “Eels” probably represents the empirical chord. , and also the squeamish feeling. The word “prawn”,
“Thumbs-down on the dodo’s mode” means the opposite of a species coming to an end as the birth of the child represents a new life. “O high-riser” suggests appellation and amazement in the growth of the child.
Americanism is present twice in the poem, drawing attention to her national heritage. Firstly, the “fourth of July” signifies Independence Day in America. Besides, “a pickle jar” is also regarded as a reference to American culture. Besides cultural reference, there is also the portrayal of history, myth and geography. “Vague as a fog and looked for like mail” shows the feeling of excitement. Perhaps it even explains everyone else’s feeling as well, the popularity of the unborn child. “Farther off than Australia,” because the foetus has yet to appear and hence, can’t be seen. “Bent-backed Atlas” symbolizes the greek legend in which the giant named Atlas, holds up the sky on his back. Again, the poet could be referring to the posture of the embryo inside the womb.
It is quite apparent that the poet greatly anticipates the birth of her baby, with high hopes for the baby’s future. “Right, like a well-done sum” shows how the baby is seen as perfection right from the very beginning. It also suggests that perhaps the baby is almost ready to be born. The final line, “a clean slate, with your own face on”, signifies the poet’s opportunity to start a fresh as a mother. It could also refer to the baby, having the appearance that would resemble its parents yet pure and untainted, the picture of innocence.
Overall, the poet makes use of various visual imagery to allow the reader to step into her shows and visualize as well as understand her perception of her own pregnancy.