english poems

• • "Checking out me own history": 'This concluding line serves as a declaration of empowerment and self-discovery. By asserting agency with the phrase "checking out," the speaker signifies an active engagement with their own history and identity.
• • "Bandage up me eye"
The metaphorical "bandage" implies a covering or blindness that needs to be removed, suggesting a process of awakening or enlightenment. By using the possessive pronoun "me" the speaker asserts ownership over their own narrative and identity
• • "Dem tell me" 
This phrase encapsulates the frustration of the speaker with the dominant historical narratives imposed upon them. The use of caribbean creole such as "dem" for "them" adds authenticity and evokes a sense of cultural identity
• • "Dem never tell me bout dat"
The quote expresses frustration from the speaker at the eurocentric nature of the education system and of historical education. The repetition of "dem" emphasises the plurality of those responsible for shaping historical narratives, such as educators and institutions.
• • "I met a traveller from an antique land" (ozymandias) 
The use of the word "antique" evokes a sense of distant past and suggests that the civilisation in question is no longer in existence
• • "Look on my works, ye mighty and despair" (ozymandias)
This line further emphasizes ozymandias's arrogance and pride as he challenges other rulers to compare themselves to his achievements
• • "I met a traveller from an antique land" - stanzas 1-2
This opening line sets the scene for the poem, indicating that the speaker encountered a traveler who had visited a distant and ancient civilization.
• • "Two vast and trunkless legs of stone" (1 ozymandias)
The vivid imagery-rich phrase describes the remains of a colossal statue lying in the desert. The gargantuan adjective vast emphasizes the statue's immense size while the adjective "trunkless" suggests that the upper part of the body has been lost over time, similar to the legacy of ozymandias which has been lost over time
• • "Half sunk, a shattered visage lies" (ozymandias) (1)
the imagery of "half sunk" conveys a sense of decay and erosion emphasizing the fleeting nature of human achievements and the inevitable passage of time
• • "Half sunk, a shattered visage lies" (ozymandias) (2)
 The term "visage" refers to the facial expression or features of a person, highlighting the focus on Ozymandias's likeness. The use of "lies" suggests that the face is lying prone or fallen, further emphasizing its ruin and disrepair.
• • "My name is ozymandias king of kings" 
The use of the phrase "king of kings" emphasizes ozymandias's status as a supreme ruler suggesting his dominance and authority over others. This line underscores the theme of hubris as Ozymandias boasts his greatness even as his empire lies in ruins
• • "He must wondered which had been the better way to die" - kamikaze
The phrase, looking in hindsight "which had been the better way to die" suggests that the pilot questioned the morality and significance of his actions weighing the value of duty against the desire for self-preservation, highlighting the futility of war.
• • "A shaven head full of powerful incantations" - kamikaze
the noun phrase"shaven head" symbolises the pilots renunciation of his personal identity and individuality in service of his duty to the emperor.
• • "A shaven head full of powerful incantations" - kamikaze
The mention of the noun phrase "powerful incantations" suggests the ritualistic and spiritual nature of the pilots preparations, highlighting the cultural and idealogical context of his actions.
• • "No longer the father we loved" - kamikaze 
the phrase "no longer the father we loved" suggests a communal loss and disillusionment as the pilot's actions have irreversably altered the family dynamic and shattered their previous image of him as a fatherly figure.
• • "But halfway there she thought" -kamikaze (1)
The povital adjective "halfway" demonstrates a pivotal moment of hesitation or uncertaintity indicating that the pilots resolve wavered as he approached his target.
• • "But halfway there she thought" -kamikaze (2)
This quote adds depth to the portrayal of the pilot's internal struggle and raises questions about the nature of courage and duty in the face of moral dilemmas.