War photographer

• The poem describes the experience of a war photographer. As he develops the photographs he relives some of the traumatic experiences he has witnessed.
• Others are mentioned in the poem - the people who are photographed in war - torn countries; the editor of the newspaper hew works for.
• “All flesh is grass” a quotation from the bible - it is traditionally interpretative as showing the inevitability of death. Duffy seems to be using the phrase ironically since int he three cities she mentions many of the violent deaths are clearly avoidable and the cause of terrorist regimes.
• Third person narrative - the poet takes us inside the man’s thoughts, commenting on the indifference to war by the western media and its reader (they don’t care).
• The regular structure could represent the order he is giving to the chaos he gas witnessed in the photos / representative of tthe routine / process he follows each time he develops his photographs, e.g “he has as job to do”.
• Enjambment reflects not only the gradual reveal of a photograph during developments but the ongoing and long-lasting effects of war on those who are directly involved and the photographer himself. The narrative of the poem seems to run through this mechanism, representing the way that the photographer’s mind is running away with, as he remembers the suffering he witnessed and considers the significance of the situation.
• “Spools of suffering“ - use of alliteration makes clear Duffy‘s sympathy for the victims the photographer has captivated in images. The word ‘suffering’ highlights their anguish and distress (perhaps before dying).
• “the readers’ eyeballs prick with tears” - the image will convey mouthing sympathy - but not enough to disturb the comforting routine of the newspaper. They are not meaningful tears; they are part of a normal sunday ritual squeezed in “between a bath and pre-lunch beers”.
• There is a feeling of reverence as he develops the photographs. “in his darkroom he is finally alone” - this tone seems reflective, quiet and still in comparison to conflict he has visited. it could also be viewed as respectful.
• “A hundred agonies in black and white” - metaphorical representation of the victims’ pain. The metaphor also amplifies the immense amount of suffering that we don’t know about and the photographer is trying to educate the reader through his photographs.
• “They do not care” - the photographer seems detached from his home as he overlooks England from the plane. The use of the pronoun ‘they’ creates the sense that he feels society in general in England do not show any empathy or compassion to the terrible suffering his photos reveal.
• Feelings and attitudes

  Pain - the poem explores different types of pain. The photographs taken depict real physical pain. The woman displays emotional pain and the photographer suffers from mental pain.

  Detachment - in order to do his job he has to be able to detach from his emotions when he is in war zones. However, when he returns home, his detachment is replaced by memories of the horrific images.
• THEMES

  Reality of war - the poem is a depiction of the terrible reality of war, particularly on innocent civilians

  War zones and non war zones contrast - through the perspective of the photographer the reader is able to contrast the two different situations

  Memory - the poem explores the impact of memories upon an individual
• COMPARE

  ’Poppies’ - different perspectives of war, memories and political

  ‘Exposure’ - harsh realities of war and political

  ‘Remains’ - the impact of memories and PTSD and an individual experience

  ‘London’ - political poem, injustice and suffering
• KEY QUOTES

  ”Spools of suffering“

  ”A hundred agonies in black and white”

  ”The readers eyeballs prick with tears between the bath and pre-lunch beers”

  ”They do not care”