Christmas in Windy Tree CityEvery where is lit up
Kirkcaldies flags are flying little bee people rush along the pavement surge at the lights (5) into the stores with gold and white and red and green and music CDs promising a white Christmas. Christmas (10) and the Queen's message and the Virgin Mary and even our own saint bless us. And car lights so bright (15) neon, and car indicators and pub lights and headlights and the glow of electric Christmas candles. And my heart is darker (20) than the reindeer pretending to prance on top of the building shortly to be demolished in front of my eyes (25) in daylight. Think I'll go rescue my car from a WCC parking warden. Remove myself to the beach where Christmas is a vague concept (30) having much less influence than the in and out of tidal festivities in Windy Tree City. It's the season. Note: Kirkcaldies is a large multi-storied department store in Wellington. WCC is the Wellington City Council. [Source: 'Christmas in Windy Tree City', by Roma Potiki, in Shaking the Tree, Steele Roberts Ltd, 1998] 1. Explain the meaning of 'demolished' (line 23) 2. Explain the metaphor 'little bee people' (line 3) 3. Explain in your own words why the poet does not like Christmas. Quote from the poem to support your answer ANSWERS Duffy, J., & Ford, C. (2006). AME Year 11 english workbook. AME for success, ESA Publications. |