Language, form and structure

• The poem uses a question and answer format to explore the effects of war on Vietnamese culture
• There is natural imagery (buds/blossom/rice) to highlight how the Vietnamese people lived in harmony with nature
• The juxtaposition of nature and conflict (killed/burned/charred/smashed) highlights the impact of war on civilians
• References to singing and silence show how the Vietnamese people have experienced a loss of innocence following the war