Us

• Themes


  - Belonging

  - Relationships

  - Identity
• Context


  - English Mum, Kashmiri Dad

  - Raised in Birmingham, moved to Yorkshire
• Important Quotes - LANGUAGE (6)


  "Us takes in undulations"

  "Reaching out from one coast to the next"

  
  

  "Oi, you, tell us where yer from."

  
  

  "supporters share the one fate - I being for one a, Liverpool."

  
  

  "cresting the Mexican wave"

  
  

  "Colour me unsure"

  
  

  "...- where I'd give myself away, stranded"
• "Us"

  
  

  RELATIONSHIPS

  The collective pronoun "us" has many different interpretations: it can mean both a small group of people and the whole of humanity simultaneously. Throughout the poem, Kunial explores various meanings of "us" and his experiences of community and belonging.
• "Us takes in undulations"

  "Reaching out from one coast to the next"

  
  

  - RELATIONSHIPS + IDENTITY


  The noun "undulations" refers to the movement of waves. This is a metaphor for how, like waves, the notion of "us" is not fixed: the constant flow of people between different places causes them to become close together or drift apart - very much like the behaviour of the sea.

  This metaphor is sustained throughout the following line, as the coasts represent various groups of people - separate, yet united and joined together by the sea. Perhaps, Kunial makes a wider social comment here: despite the perceived differences between our various communities, we share more alike and foster more connections between us than what we initially feel.
• "Oi you, tell us where yer from"

  
  

  BELONGING, RELATIONSHIPS, IDENTITY


  The use of a Midlands' dialect here provides an interjection of gentle humour, constructing a personal and authentic tone. It can either be interpreted as an aggressive confrontation or a gentle curiosity, nevertheless we glean how the speaker is isolated because of his outward appearance. Indeed, his whole sense of belonging is brought into question despite his strong, life-long affiliations with Birmingham. We glean the irony Kunial endures of being an outsider in his hometown, always on the periphery and never truly belonging.
• "supporters share the one fate - I being for one a, Liverpool."

  
  

  RELATIONSHIPS, IDENTITY


  Kunial uses the analogy of football to convey the notion of "us." The verb "share" depicts the togetherness and unity of the "supporters." Furthermore, the quantifier "one" reinforces how they all have one singular thing in common which forms the basis of a strong community. However, the use of "one" here is contrasted in the following line where the speaker uses "one" to construct an impression of his own individual identity.
• "Cresting the Mexican Wave"

  
  

  RELATIONSHIPS, IDENTITY, BELONGING

  The use of sporting-event imagery is sustained throughout the stanza, as well as the overall semantic field of oceans. The noun "wave" communicates the movement of people, generating a sense of belonging: through participating in a positive, celebratory act creates a sense of excitement and exhilaration. The Mexican wave also serves to connect the two teams in the football stadium and bridges their physical divide, which relates to the wide theme and notion of "us" present within the poem.
• "Colour me unsure"

  
  

  IDENTITY


  This colloquial phrase meaning "call me unsure" indicates the poet's doubts over the complexity of the relationship and the fracturedness of what was once "us." It could also be a pun on Kunial's ethnicity. Contextually, Kunial was born to a Kashmiri father and English mother so did look different to others in his city. The reference to "colour" possibly alludes to how cultural differences resulted in the failure of the relationship, which Kunial is now reflecting on.
• "...where I'd give myself away, stranded"

  
  

  IDENTITY, RELATIONSHIPS


  The adjective "stranded" constructs an image of an individual being ship-wrecked on an island. Therefore, the nautical semantic field is sustained throughout the poem. The adjective conveys his own feelings isolation, as well as how expressing his own feelings would leave him vulnerable. This idea is further perpetuated by the colloquial phrase, "give myself away" which generates an honest, sincere tone. Furthermore, the caesura following "away" creates an emphatic pause and serves to separate the adjective "stranded", further highlighting the broken nature of the speaker's "us".
• Structural Points


  - Regular Tercets

  
  

  - Enjambement

  
  

  - Anaphora "I hope"
• Regular Tercets


  The poem's regular form effectively communicates Kunial's probing, measured reflection on the philosophical nature of "us" both as individuals and collectively.
• Enjambment


  The poem is arranged structurally so that there is continual enjambment throughout. This creates a nostalgic, reminiscent and contemplative tone as we as the readers, are able to follow and engage with his thoughts. Moreover, the enjambment also represents the unification of different people, as one line flows or "reaches out to the next."
• Anaphora "I hope"


  The anaphora present in the final stanza emphasises the speaker's desire to re-unite with his partner. The phrase "I hope", addressed assumedly to his ex-partner, is a form of subtle persuasion. However, we glean feelings of doubt over whether this idea is feasible, as there are too many things left unsaid, as well as things which cannot be said, between them which leaves the speaker powerless. This idea is perpetuated by the phrase, "where I'm coming from." This can be interpreted literally to mean the closing of physical distance; although more convincingly, Kunial employs this phrase in a colloquial manner to convey the misunderstanding and lack of communication.
• Comparative Poems - Identity/ Belonging

  We Refugees
• Comparative Poems - Relationships


  Peckham Rye Lane