Page 2: The Young Victims

Morgan continues to build the scene, focusing on the young people who have been used as human battering rams in this violent robbery.

The repetition of "young" emphasizes the vulnerability and innocence of the victims, making the crime seem even more heinous. The present tense phrase "are falling" creates a sense of immediacy, as if the reader is witnessing the event in real-time.

Example: The phrase "are falling" puts the reader right in the moment, creating a cinematic quality to the poem's narrative.

The metaphor of "bristling" glass on the young man's face is particularly powerful. It not only describes the physical reality of glass shards but also suggests a transformation from youth to a more mature, hardened state.

Quote: "a ragged diamond / of shattered plate-glass / bristling with fragments / still hanging"

This vivid imagery helps the reader visualize the brutal aftermath of the crime and the physical toll on the victims.

Page 4: Graphic Depiction of Injuries

Morgan's poem takes a more graphic turn as it describes the injuries sustained by the female victim.

The use of onomatopoeia in "spurts" vividly conveys the sudden, forceful nature of the blood loss. This is reinforced by the phrase "arterial blood," which emphasizes the severity of the injury.

Definition: Arterial blood - Blood from an artery, typically bright red and under high pressure.

There's a touch of dark irony in the description of the "wet-look white coat," now actually wet with the victim's blood. This detail adds to the overall sense of horror and violation.

Quote: "spurts of arterial blood / have stained the wet-look white coat"

Page 10: Society's Indifference

The final page of analysis focuses on the poem's critique of societal indifference and the death of the Good Samaritan concept.

The phrase "keep their eyes on the road" is deeply ironic. While good drivers should indeed focus on the road, here it represents a deliberate choice to ignore the crime and its victims.

Quote: "Drivers keep their eyes on the road"

This final image sums up the poem's main theme: society's lack of compassion and the absence of people willing to help others in need. By choosing to do nothing, the passersby become almost complicit in the crime.

Highlight: The poem's conclusion leaves readers with a challenging question about their own role and responsibility in the face of societal violence and injustice.