Homecoming

1. Homecoming Simon Armitage

2. Homecoming Think, two things on their own and both at once. The first, that exercise in trust, where those in front stand with their arms spread wide and free-fall backwards, blind, and those behind take all the weight. The second, one canary-yellow cotton jacket on a cloakroom floor, uncoupled from its hook, becoming scuffed and blackened underfoot. Back home the very model of a model of a mother, yours, puts two and two together, makes a proper fist of it and points the finger. Temper, temper. Questions in the house. You seeing red. Blue murder. Bed Then midnight when you slip the latch and sneak no further than the call-box at the corner of the street; I’m waiting by the phone, although it doesn’t ring because it’s sixteen years or so before we’ll meet. retrace that walk towards the garden gate; in silhouette a father figure waits there, wants to set things straight. These ribs are pleats or seams. These arms are sleeves. These fingertips are buttons, or these hands can fold into a clasp, or else these fingers make a zip or buckle, you say which. Step backwards into it and try the same canary-yellow cotton jacket, there, like this, for size again. It still fits.

3. Security of knowing someone is there to catch you REMEMBER THIS! Alliteration for emphasis, F echoes falling person Contrasting alliteration, “b” echoes catcher Symbol of what? Why scuffed and blackened? Repetition of model Stock phrases Rows over things done wrong Colourful expressions Homecoming Think, two things on their own and both at once. The first, that exercise in trust, where those in front stand with their arms spread wide and free-fall backwards, blind, and those behind take all the weight. The second, one canary-yellow cotton jacket on a cloakroom floor, uncoupled from its hook, becoming scuffed and blackened underfoot. Back home the very model of a model of a mother, yours, puts two and two together, makes a proper fist of it and points the finger. Temper, temper. Questions in the house. You seeing red. Blue murder. Bed

4. In time, parents are replaced, but never abandoned Why waiting by the phone? Destiny is to meet a new person to share your life with, or become your adult self But parents still there ready to sort things out Can be undone, adult relationships vulnerable One long extended metaphor for adult relation-ships, this is the two things on their own New and different kinds of relationships Like the trust exercise Security always there The ambiguity makes the message more applicable to the wider world Then midnight when you slip the latch and sneak no further than the call-box at the corner of the street; I’m waiting by the phone, although it doesn’t ring because it’s sixteen years or so before we’ll meet. retrace that walk towards the garden gate; in silhouette a father figure waits there, wants to set things straight. These ribs are pleats or seams. These arms are sleeves. These fingertips are buttons, or these hands can fold into a clasp, or else these fingers make a zip or buckle, you say which. Step backwards into it and try the same canary-yellow cotton jacket, there, like this, for size again. It still fits.