‘A Disused Shed in Co.Wexford ’

Sound effects help to create atmosphere – onomatopoeia Rich, precise imagery throughout. Visual, aural, tactile imagery combined ‘A Disused Shed in Co.Wexford’ Poem has wide-ranging historical and political references. Mushrooms symbolic of those who suffered violence and neglect – gives oppressed a voice. Invites reader to reflect (ATT/AISB) Each stanza (apart from the first) is self-contained and end-stopped – long line lengths. Form of poem appropriate to meditative tone and complex historical theme Strong sense of place created

‘Peruvian mines, worked out and adandoned...Indian compound where the wind dances/And a door bangs with diminished confidence’ Images of emptiness from across several continents – become places where meaning is possible ‘And in a disused shed in Co.Wexford,...A thousand mushrooms crowd to a keyhole’ Poem zooms in on disused shed and the mushrooms- sets scene for rest of poem

‘This is the one star in their firmament...What should they do but desire?...They have learnt patience and silence’ Described in series of precise and rich images. Spend days straining towards the light – sense of hopelessness Symbolic function – contrast in their isolation & world outside Personification/ symbol

Onomatopoeia ‘they have been waiting for us...since civil war days,/Since the gravel-crunching, interminable departure of the expropriated mycologist Symbolic function explicitly clear- linked to those abandoned in the Northern Ireland troubles. Hear the departure clearly

Visual,aural,tactile imagery ‘the pale flesh flaking/Into the earth that nourished it;...stale air and rank moisture Powerful, sensuous imagery evokes suffering, death and decay. ‘Elbow room! Elbow room!’ Echoes the fate of the Jewish people Under Nazi regimes during WWII Direct speech engages the reader fully

Onomatopoeia- hard consonant sounds ‘the cracking lock/And creak of hinges; Discovery of the isolated/abandoned companions is vividly captured Metaphor ‘magi,moonemen,/Powerdry prisoners of the old regime, Web-throated...’ Series of imaginative metaphors captures the fragility and plight of the mushrooms as they are discovered

Alliteration – repeated ‘f’ echoes their fear ‘only the ghost of a scream/At the flash-bulb firing squad with shows there is life yet in their feverish forms’ They are ready to scream in fright when the door is opened. Reminds us of mass suffering in the world beyond ‘They are begging us, you see, in their wordless way, To do something, to speak on their behalf’ Poet acts as their voice – pleads to us to hear them

‘Lost people of Treblinka and Pompeii...Let the god not abandon us’ Mushrooms have symbolised the multitudes of oppressed – Jewish prionsers and buried of Pompeii Biblical tone Pun on ‘Meter’ ‘You with your light meter and relaxed itinerary’ Acknowledge the power of the poet in speaking on behalf of th powerless. Adressess us all to remember and continue acknoweldging

‘A Disused Shed in Co.Wexford ’