Examine the language and attention to detail in the poem

1. Examine the language and attention to detail in the poem Naomi Shi and Amrita Mangho

2. Saying goodbye..... • 'Rear-View Mirror' • Metaphorically describing a reflection process, of somthing in the past • Association with a car, suggests the process of moving forward • 'behind your back' • Alliteration connotes a sense of longing • Idea of leaving the past behind • Creates a distance between the past and future • 'standing' 'leaning' 'lingering' 'growing' • Use of present participle creates a sense of the difficulty in letting go of the past • Lengthy sound seems like a delay (almost onomatopoeic) • Mourning tone- treasuring past experience

3. Past VS Future • 'Tiny in your lengthening wake, still waving' • Imagery- people get smaller in your rear-view mirror as you drive away • 'lengthening wake' metaphorically conveys that memory (past) will never go away • Contrast between 'lengthening' and 'tiny', may suggest the past will soon be insignificant, as the present is more important. Also the pain of leaving the past will soon start to dull. • 'nameless people on a postcard' • Metaphor comparison to inanimate object ('postcard') emphasises the insignificance of the past • Alliteration emphasises that past can be easily forgotten • 'nameless' suggests the past contains an accumulation of unnecessary desires, which are unimportant for one's future

4. Inviting independence... • "Then, at the first turn, they're lost completely" • caesura creates uncertainty, emphasised in "lost completely" • "Then" creates a shift in tone, moving from a more secure atmosphere to a more lonelier tone as the environment and the narrator's memories are all that's left to comfort him and remind him of his origins • "first turn" represents the first steps to independency • "places taken by someone's windbreak pines" • "windbreak pines" adds a personal touch to the poem • the use of "someone's" distances the narrator, showing that others have added their existence to his life • "places taken" creates a sense that the holes in the narrator's heart are never there for long and there is a prolonged happiness - creating new memories

5. The Future Unknown • "nothing but empty road" • "empty" shows the uncertainty the future is and how undeveloped a future is without any plans • "nothing"creates tension, as there is ambiguity in having nothing to guide not only the narrator but also the reader • "road" contrasts "nothing" showing that there is some guidance through life • "towns where you will never know a soul" • adds to the theme of the "unknown" • "town" is a large area full of people, yet the narrator doesn't "know a soul" • contrasts to "nothing but empty road" as decisions are made about the narrator's future and places are being marked on the metaphorical map of experiences and the potential relationships that will be made

6. Future Opportunities • "exits following exits " • metaphorically transposing life's road with the features of a real road • exits symbolise opportunities and events that will come • the repetition of "exits" show that there will always be chances regardless if you miss one or another • "you will pass and never take" • represents the many decisions of life • followed by "amassing a stiff toll finally to make good on" • "stiff toll" creates negative connotations, showing that the decisions that the narrator made felt wrong at the time but the result was good • also serves to show the distance the narrator is willing to travel to continues towards his goal or dream in life and away from his roots and family

7. Conclusion • 'higher-powered reflective instrument • Metaphorically suggesting that we have our memories to use for guidance. Ideology of learning from past mistakes • 'higher powered'- religious connotation emphasises the importance of memories • 'instrument' - comparison to an object suggest that memories must only be used as a source of reflection, not as something to dwell on or feel sorrowful about • Assonance emphasises narrator's point to reader. Creates fluidity • 'bring back in view as large as life' • Simile conveys how close to us our memories are, and that although we can make progress, our memories will be unforgettable • Alliteration- lulling 'l' creates a reminiscent atmosphere

8. "putting yourself in the pictures, • Alliteration - creates a serene and comforting tone • Metaphor creates a sense of togetherness that can be gained purely through memories, despite the actual distance that is between the narrator and his family • picture connotes that the image or the memory will last forever, suggesting that the bonds will last • which makes thinking about them as you saw them lasting" • demonstrating how the love between family is so strong that it can overcome time and distance • creates a comforting tone and a sense of togetherness