Sense of negativity - emphasises the pause in the
Winter Swans
weather and perhaps in their relationship
Personification - the heavy rain may reflect the
problems in the couple’s relationship
Personification - the earth’s desperation links to how their
The clouds had given their all – relationship is struggling to survive for life
two days of rain and then a break
in which we walked, There is a pause created that emphasises the couple’s
silence and separation
the waterlogged earth The couple is keeping to the edge of the lake, but also
gulping for breath at our feet keeping their distance from each other and perhaps
as we skirted the lake, silent and apart, avoiding the issue and difficulties that troubles them
Suggests that what the swans are doing are meaningful for the
until the swans came and stopped us couple as the speaker is inspired by them - swans only spend
time with one partner
with a show of tipping in unison.
Suggests that the couple is weighed down by the
As if rolling weights down their bodies to their heads
problems
Verb in their
- ‘halved’ relationship
suggests separation but also the swans
were a whole to begin with - reflects the relationship Metaphor - icebergs have more below the surface of
they halved themselves in the dark water, the water they do above. Suggests that the couple
icebergs of white feather, paused before returning again keeps things hidden from each other and are not
Metaphor - like boats righting in rough weather. communicating, or it could imply that their
‘porcelain’ is Simile - it has been a rough time in the relationship has a strong foundation
strong and relationship but things are becoming more stable Watershed moment - this is the first time we hear one of
‘They mate for life’ you said as they left,
beautiful - them speak to the other - this voice seems to confirm that
reflects the porcelain over the stilling water. I didn’t reply they have turned a corner in their relationship
hope that but as we moved on through the afternoon light,
They are moving together and in unison Represents how the disruption in the couple’s
their love will
like the swans did relationship is settling down
have these slow-stepping in the lake’s shingle and sand,
qualities Creates an impression of softness - reflects the softening
I noticed our hands, that had, somehow, of tension between them
swum the distance between us
Metaphor - their hands have crossed the physical distance between
Swan imagery to describe them holding hands - this
them suggesting that they have come close together closely
shows that they are following the example of the swans
and folded, one over the other,
Full stop - emphasises the sense that the trouble in
like a pair of wings settling after flight.
their relationship has been raised
They are no longer two separate
things, but part of one whole Motif of two
Owen Sheers
Winter Swans
weather and perhaps in their relationship
Personification - the heavy rain may reflect the
problems in the couple’s relationship
Personification - the earth’s desperation links to how their
The clouds had given their all – relationship is struggling to survive for life
two days of rain and then a break
in which we walked, There is a pause created that emphasises the couple’s
silence and separation
the waterlogged earth The couple is keeping to the edge of the lake, but also
gulping for breath at our feet keeping their distance from each other and perhaps
as we skirted the lake, silent and apart, avoiding the issue and difficulties that troubles them
Suggests that what the swans are doing are meaningful for the
until the swans came and stopped us couple as the speaker is inspired by them - swans only spend
time with one partner
with a show of tipping in unison.
Suggests that the couple is weighed down by the
As if rolling weights down their bodies to their heads
problems
Verb in their
- ‘halved’ relationship
suggests separation but also the swans
were a whole to begin with - reflects the relationship Metaphor - icebergs have more below the surface of
they halved themselves in the dark water, the water they do above. Suggests that the couple
icebergs of white feather, paused before returning again keeps things hidden from each other and are not
Metaphor - like boats righting in rough weather. communicating, or it could imply that their
‘porcelain’ is Simile - it has been a rough time in the relationship has a strong foundation
strong and relationship but things are becoming more stable Watershed moment - this is the first time we hear one of
‘They mate for life’ you said as they left,
beautiful - them speak to the other - this voice seems to confirm that
reflects the porcelain over the stilling water. I didn’t reply they have turned a corner in their relationship
hope that but as we moved on through the afternoon light,
They are moving together and in unison Represents how the disruption in the couple’s
their love will
like the swans did relationship is settling down
have these slow-stepping in the lake’s shingle and sand,
qualities Creates an impression of softness - reflects the softening
I noticed our hands, that had, somehow, of tension between them
swum the distance between us
Metaphor - their hands have crossed the physical distance between
Swan imagery to describe them holding hands - this
them suggesting that they have come close together closely
shows that they are following the example of the swans
and folded, one over the other,
Full stop - emphasises the sense that the trouble in
like a pair of wings settling after flight.
their relationship has been raised
They are no longer two separate
things, but part of one whole Motif of two
Owen Sheers
