Before You Were Mine

• "right walk" ... "wrong pavement"


  contrast in words suggests Duffy thinks her mum made the wrong decision of having her because of the sacrifices she made
• "high heeled red shoes, relics"


  Alliteration

  'relics' - meaning antique, symbolises mother's sacrifices & loss of her younger self for the sake of her child
• "Before you were mine"


  Repetition - shows a sense of ownership child feels & reinforces idea that having a child dominates a mother's life.
• "Your polka-dot dress blows round your legs. Marilyn"


  Context/metaphor - Marilyn Monroe was a famous & beautiful actress, it could symbolise that her mother looked glamorous