Singh Song! - Daljit Nagra

• Form:

  Song with chorus. Repetition of the word "my bride" which is separated to intentionally draw attention that the narrator is too focused on his bride and marriage, rather than work.An alternating structure of work and marriage.
• Rhyme scheme:

  In the beginning, the use of half rhyme appear to suggest that their relationship is unfulfilled.

  After work, full rhyme suggests that their relationship is fulfilled, regardless of stereotypes and social expectation.
• Tone:

  Romantic, lighted-hearted and humorous.
• Context:

  Dalgit's parents immigrated from India to the UK at the late 1950's and he is a 2nd generation immigrant (coflicit between the 1st and 2nd generation immigrants. Perhaps, some of the thoughts of the 2nd generation immigrant narrator might be influenced from Nagra's own experience.
• "I run just one ov my daddy's shops from 9 o'clock to 9 o'clock"

  "Daddy"-child-like tone, which suggests that his father still has control over his life. Compared with BYWM.Tradition passed on from his immigrant father to him. However, he rebels which symbolise that the 2nd generation are more likely to embrace the western culture, rather their own traditional culture.
• "After vee hav luv like vee rolling through Putney-"

  "Putney" - London distinct, or Punjabi for wives.

  Rhyme is bizarre, and the effect is comedic.

  Image of them making love and intimacy, contrast with the physical distance in "Sonnet 29"

  Shows the misunderstanding between the relationship between the 1st generation immigrant and British people, which still exists today.
• ven she netting two cat on her Sikh lover site


  Suggests that his wife runs a dating ageny- modern approach to relationship contrasts with the idea of arranged marriage , a stereotypical part of Indian culture.
• "effing at all the colours of Punjabi"

  "Effing"-onomatopeic, swearing. All the colour of Punjabi- the wide arrays of culture..Defying the stereotypes of Indian women,immigrants,arranged marriage.
• tiny eyes ov a gun/and di tummy ov a teddy


  Metaphor that describe the the wife as both dangerous and cute- she's a combination of lots of different things. Use of half- rhyme which implies that their relationship is unfulfilled?
• "High heel tap di ground"

  His bride is glamorous linked to a new generation that's embracing Western culture. Succession of monosyllable words imitates her heel tapping the ceiling.
• The repetition of the phrase: "the worst shop in di street"

  Exaggeration create humour and highlights the contrast between the unreliable narrator and his careful father.Indians immigrants defy their hardworking stereotypes to show the british readers that stereotypes are not true.
• "Tartan-sari"

  mix of British and Indian culture.
• "Red crew cut"

  rebellious image of the bride, which is unexpected, because of the stereotypes of Asian women being submissive. His new wife embodies western culture.
• "Brightey-moon"

  "brightey"- Punjabi for foreign. Despite cultural barriers, Indians clearly love living in the UK. The image of the moon is one of romance.
• "Half-price windows"

  The image of their shops "Half-price windows"

  juxtaposed with this romantic image of moon.Poet prioritised love over work.
• "How much do you charge for that moon baby?""Half the price of you". "silver stool"

  Poet prioritised love over money as well The money imageries contrasts with the romantic description of beaches in the moonlight..Love is clearly fulfilled despite their difficulty adapting to their life in the UK.
• Accent

  Punglish to give a strong impression of the characters, and the voices of the poem combine Indian and and English words and accents, which shows the influences of both cultures on the characters.