Imagery

"Wearing a poppy bruise on his left temple"

• Heaney describes his deceased brother's injury as "wearing a poppy bruise on his left temple."

• The word "wearing" suggests something temporary, almost as if the bruise could be removed, softening the harsh reality of death.

• The poppy is a symbol of remembrance and war, reinforcing the idea of tragic loss.

  

• This delicate, floral imagery contrasts with the violence of the accident, highlighting the innocence of the child.

• This line is particularly striking because it presents death in an understated and almost gentle manner, making it even more poignant.

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"A four-foot box, a foot for every year"

• The poem ends with the devastating image: "A four-foot box, a foot for every year."
• The small coffin immediately conveys the heartbreaking reality of the child's death.
• This line's measured, factual tone makes it even more emotionally powerful. There is no dramatic language—just the stark reality of a life cut short.
• The precise mention of four feet, four years forces the reader to visualise the child's size, making the loss feel even more personal and tragic.
• This final image lingers in the reader's mind, leaving a lasting impression of grief and finality.