Page 1: The Journey and Initial Displacement
Carol Ann Duffy's poem "Originally" begins with a powerful depiction of a family's journey from their homeland. The opening stanza sets the scene with rich imagery and emotional depth.
The poem starts with the line "We came from our own country in a red room," immediately establishing the theme of displacement. The "red room" likely refers to the family car, symbolizing both protection and the means of their uprooting.
Highlight: The use of "our own country" emphasizes the sense of belonging that is being left behind, setting up the conflict of identity that runs throughout the poem.
Duffy employs vivid sensory details to capture the experience of the journey. The mother's singing and the father's name being repeated to "the turn of the wheels" create a rhythmic, almost hypnotic quality that mirrors the motion of travel.
The emotional impact on the children is powerfully conveyed through their reactions. Duffy writes, "My brothers cried, one of them bawling, Home, / Home," repeating the word to emphasize their distress and longing for the familiar.
Quote: "I stared / at the eyes of a blind toy, holding its paw."
This image of the child clinging to a toy serves as a poignant symbol of seeking comfort in the face of uncertainty. It also highlights the innocence and vulnerability of the young narrator.
The poem then shifts to a more reflective tone, with Duffy stating, "All childhood is an emigration." This metaphor expands the personal experience to a universal one, suggesting that growing up itself is a form of leaving behind the familiar.
Definition: Emigration - The act of leaving one's own country to settle permanently in another.
Duffy explores the varying paces of change, contrasting slow changes that leave one "resigned" with sudden shifts that are more jarring. The mention of "Your accent wrong" introduces the theme of linguistic displacement, a key aspect of cultural identity.
The poet's use of simile in "My parents' anxiety stirred like a loose tooth" effectively conveys the unsettling nature of their new situation. This dental imagery suggests a painful but necessary transition, much like losing baby teeth.
