Mother any distance

• “You at the Zero end, me with the spool of Tape”

  “Tape” extended metaphor, sons potential despite trepidation, connection between them

  “Zero end” mothers stability and constant presence,

  juxtaposition, “You”, direct address “me”, personal pronoun, physical separation between them whilst finding his identity
• “You at the zero end, me with the spool of tape“
• “Anchor. Kite”
• “Anchor. Kite”

  Contrasting images, conflict between sons past and future, shows he’s apprehensive

  ”anchor” mother provides support, stability, safety, comfort of mothers presence gives him courage for exploration, potentially holding him back

  “Kite” seeking freedom, independence, exploration

  Caesura, both of them attempting to move on
• “towards a hatch that opens an endless sky to fall or fly”
• “towards a hatch that opens an endless sky to fall or fly”

  Metaphor for adulthood

  “Hatch” animalistic imagery, creates image of rebirth, new life, beginning

  “Endless” freedom and opportunity which awaits him

  “Fall” failure

  “Fly” breaking free from mothers protection

  rhyming couplet suggests they managed to move forwards together
• Context

  explores love, tenderness and pain

  Familial relationships develop over time
• Structure

  Linear, son grows valour
• Form

  Sonnet form

  Typically 14 lines armitage uses 15 show how son is breaking free
• Compare

  Walking away, letting children go into adulthood

  Follower, admiration for parents

  before you were mine, children reflecting on distance in the relationship