“Her father embarked at sunrise with a flask of water” 

Cards (2)

  • Structure
    The poem begins with the line “Her father embarked at sunrise with a flask of water, a samurai sword,” introducing the story of a kamikaze pilot through the perspective of his daughter recounting his journey to her children. This opening stanza establishes the physical and emotional journey, with a subsequent line break signalling a shift to the daughter’s reimagined perspective, where she intellectualises her father's experiences despite his symbolic “death” within their family.
  • Analysis
    The repeated "s"sounds (sibilance) create a sense of peace, symbolizing the serenity the pilot was expected to find in death. The sunrisereflects dual symbolism: Japan (the “land of the rising sun”) and divinity, suggesting purification and sacrifice akin to Christian notions of baptism. The word “embarked” deliberately evokes imagery of a boat, linking to the grandfather's fishing vessel, which reminds the pilot of familial bonds and life, persuading him not to follow through with his mission.