The Emigree

• 'The Emigree' is a mixture of English and French, hinting the events of refugees
• 'there once was a country' storytelling tone, telling their story to the world, almost like a fairytale
• 'I left it as a child' their backstory is made obvious but we are never told the name of the place, which allows any refugee to relate
• 'sunlight' repeating motif
• 'may be at war' 'may be sick with tyrants' perceiving the negative side of their country
• 'white' 'coloured' colour imagery of hope and grace
• 'tanks' 'frontiers' military vocabulary
• 'child's vocabulary I carried here' left as a child
• 'like a hollow doll' simile has connotations of childhood, which has been corrupted by the conflict
• 'I have no passport' must have been an illegal, sudden leaving
• 'my city' still identifies with the country, despite not living there, shows her mixed emotions with identity
• 'docile as paper' simile, shows the country is easily manipulated and under corruption
• 'they accuse me of absence' guilt of leaving the country and not defending it
• 'being dark in their free city' prejudice in their new city as well as old, highlighting unclear identity. 'dark' contrasts 'sunlight' as their opinion has changed with age
• 'my city hides behind me' caesura, defending city due to the guilt of leaving. Also trying to hide the positive perception from the negative opinions