The emigree

• What does the phrase "There once was a country..." suggest about the speaker's memories?


  It implies her memories are childlike and imaginative
• How does the ambiguity in the poem relate to emigrants?


  It allows the poem to resonate with all emigrants
• What does the use of 'once' in the poem suggest?


  It suggests the place has been forgotten
• What does the ellipsis in the poem signify?


  It indicates the unreliability of the speaker's memories
• What internal conflict is suggested by the phrase "But I can't get it off my tongue"?


  It highlights the struggle between memory and reality
• What does the repetition of 'but' imply in the poem?


  It implies doubt and lack of acceptance
• How does the collective pronoun "they" affect the speaker's feelings?


  It makes her feel outnumbered and like an outsider
• What tone is created by the phrase "They accuse me"?


  It creates an ominous tone of isolation
• What does the repetition of "sunlight" symbolize in the poem?


  It symbolizes her idealized view of her homeland
• How does sunlight contribute to the poem's imagery?


  It creates a semantic field of innocence and beauty
• What does the structure of free verse represent in the poem?


  It represents chaos and lack of control
• How does iambic pentameter function in the poem?


  It mirrors a heartbeat, suggesting love and emotion
• Why might the poem's ambiguity be intentional?


  To make it relatable to all emigrants
• How does sunlight's blinding quality affect the speaker's memories?

  It distorts her idealized view of the past
• How does the positive imagery in the poem contrast with its structure?

  It contrasts with the chaos of free verse