Poppies

• 'spasms of paper red'


  Colour imagery to potentially foreshadow the injuries faced at war by many

  Seen again within the word 'spasms' having connotations of pain
• 'I rounded up as many white cat hairs as I could'


  Shows the heavy maternal nature of the speaker

  Colour imagery, potentially trying to gather his innocence before he leaves to an impure place?
• 'gelled blackthorns of your hair'


  Religious imagery as it potentially describes Jesus' crown of thorns

  Could show the soldiers' sacrifice for their country?
• 'I was brave'


  Son being brave as he is going to war

  Mother being brave emotionally watching her son go to war
• 'world overflowing like a treasure chest'


  Son had freedom however it can be deceiving
• 'intoxicated'


  False ideologies and propaganda intoxicating the sons mind

  Coping method of PTSD when the son comes back?
• 'released a song bird from its cage'


  Letting go of her son and granting him freedom

  However once a bird is released the chance of seeing them again is highly unlikely and can foreshadow the speakers' worry
• 'tucks, darts, pleats'


  Textile imagery refers to how she remembers being a good mother who sews buttons back onto her sons clothing
• 'inscriptions on the war memorial' 


  Foreshadowing her son's death?
• 'wishbones'


  Broken emotionally/mentally

  Wishing he is okay