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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
The poem opens with the speaker noting that they have "missed you by moments," immediately setting a tone of near misses and disconnect. This theme is carried throughout the poem, with everyday domestic images serving as metaphors for the state of the relationship. The steam from a "just-boiled kettle" and the water finding its level in the pipes symbolize routine domestic life, yet also suggest a sense of something fleeting and ungraspable. The imagery of an unsettled house - with dust stirred by curtains and the "clockwork contractions of the paraffin heater" - further illustrates the sense of a shared life that is somehow out of sync. The poem speaks to the loneliness and frustration that can occur when partners are physically close yet emotionally distant, a common scenario in modern relationships where work and other commitments can dominate. The phrase "For weeks now we have come and gone, woken in empty acres of bedding" powerfully conveys the emotional distance between the couple, despite sharing a bed. The idea of leaving "lipstick love-notes on the bathroom mirror" speaks to attempts at communication and connection that somehow fall short in their transience and superficiality. The last stanza shifts the focus upstairs, suggesting a bedroom or a more intimate space. The "air, still hung with spores of your hairspray" and "body-heat stowed in the crumpled duvet" are poignant reminders of the partner's presence, yet they also underscore her absence. These details are "more telling than lipstick kisses," suggesting a deeper, more profound understanding of the partner’s existence and the impact of her absence. Overall, "Night Shift" is a beautifully crafted poem that explores the complexities of contemporary relationships. Armitage uses everyday domestic imagery to illustrate the emotional landscape of a relationship strained by missed connections and unaligned schedules, capturing the longing for a deeper, more consistent connection. POEM TEXT: https://yorkshiretimes.co.uk/article/Poem-Of-The-Week--Night-Shift--Simon-Armitage
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...NEW SEASON by MICHAEL S. HARPER THE INVENTION OF LOVE by MATTHEA HARVEY TWO VIEWS OF BUSON by ROBERT HASS A LOVE FOR FOUR VOICES: HOMAGE TO FRANZ JOSEPH HAYDN by ANTHONY HECHT AN OFFERING FOR PATRICIA by ANTHONY HECHT LATE AFTERNOON: THE ONSLAUGHT OF LOVE by ANTHONY HECHT A SWEETENING ALL AROUND ME AS IT FALLS by JANE HIRSHFIELD |
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