Mother, any distance- Simon Armintage

• "You come to help me measure windows, pelmets, doors,"

   This line shows the mother’s supportiveness as she helps her son measure various parts of his new house. It suggests the son’s dependence on his mother during this transition.
• "You at the zero-end, me with the spool of tape,"


  This line symbolizes the start of the son’s journey into independence, with the mother at the starting point and the son holding the measure of his future.
• "Anchor. Kite"


  These two words symbolize the relationship between the mother and son. The mother is the “anchor,” providing stability and security, while the son is the “kite,” eager to explore and fly but still connected to his mother.
• "Acres of the walls, the prairies of the floors,"


  The use of hyperbole in this line emphasizes the vastness of the son’s new life and the daunting task of navigating it without his mother’s constant presence.
• "I space-walk through the empty bedrooms, climb"


  This line uses the metaphor of a space-walk to convey the son’s feelings of uncertainty and apprehension as he explores his new home and life.
• These lines reflect the themes of independence, growth, and the changing dynamics of the mother-son relationship that are central to the poem. The poem is a poignant exploration of a son’s journey into adulthood and the evolving role of his mother in his life.