Synopsis= Duffy chose to give this poem a second person narrative as the speaker depicts a pivotal journey in their life in which they are leaving a location which once held a special place in their heart. Despite the sadness of the speaker for leaving behind a chapter there is a semantic field of disease, decay and death surrounding the description of the old location, which suggests that it has lost meaning to the speaker.
Key Quotations + Analysis
1.) "Stumps of houses"
The word choice stump here gives allusion to something not fully growing, this could convey that the speaker must leave this location in her past in order to reach her maximum potential.
"Stumps" also links to stumps of cigarettes, this could imply that certain taboo escapism's such as cigarettes have stunted the growth of this towns residents to rise above and beyond the restraints of this place.
2.) "You go for a drink, relaxed"
Duffy decides to end the poem in a similar way to how it begins which could suggest that the speaker is stuck in a downwards spiral. However the tone of this line is very much different to the similar line at the start in the fact that it shows an essence of hope after the speaker has 'released' this part of her past as she can now move on without this burden/shadow of her past. Therefore the cyclical nature shows that you are able to look back on your past and not miss it/ want to go back.
3.) "At a red light"
This colour red indicates something is stopping the speaker from progressing as a red light acts as a barrier, however a red light changes to green with time which suggests that positivity is in proximity for the speaker.
A red light also has a darker connotation to something such as prostitution, this could connote that this place has changed to the speaker and its sinister undertones have distanced her from missing the location.
4.) "Swarm in the room, sting you"
Allusion to bees who are a part of nature, this could imply that the relationship that the speaker experienced in this location came naturally to them however it quickly turned toxic and harmful.
Once bees sting they die, this could show that once the relationship turned negative the speakers close bond with the city faded as she had no positive or loving memories attached to it.
5.) "Who's head is a negative of itself"
This perhaps shows that the original colours and vibrancy of youth have been reversed and now they are drained of life causing them to grey and dull.
This could also suggest that the speakers aspirations and dreams have not come true and they are stuck in this stagnant place
Links to other poems=
Havisham and Adultery= All three poems convey a distorted imagery of marriage in the quotes "plastic confetti", "stabbed at the wedding cake" and "crumbled like a wedding cake"
Close- Both poems suggest that a home is a poisonous vice that damages the speakers life.
Nostalgia= The speaker of this poem returns to a location which had a lot of significance to them, however due to the progression of time and emotions, the feelings attached to this location have altered, similarly to the speaker of Never go Back
Key Quotations + Analysis
1.) "Stumps of houses"
The word choice stump here gives allusion to something not fully growing, this could convey that the speaker must leave this location in her past in order to reach her maximum potential.
"Stumps" also links to stumps of cigarettes, this could imply that certain taboo escapism's such as cigarettes have stunted the growth of this towns residents to rise above and beyond the restraints of this place.
2.) "You go for a drink, relaxed"
Duffy decides to end the poem in a similar way to how it begins which could suggest that the speaker is stuck in a downwards spiral. However the tone of this line is very much different to the similar line at the start in the fact that it shows an essence of hope after the speaker has 'released' this part of her past as she can now move on without this burden/shadow of her past. Therefore the cyclical nature shows that you are able to look back on your past and not miss it/ want to go back.
3.) "At a red light"
This colour red indicates something is stopping the speaker from progressing as a red light acts as a barrier, however a red light changes to green with time which suggests that positivity is in proximity for the speaker.
A red light also has a darker connotation to something such as prostitution, this could connote that this place has changed to the speaker and its sinister undertones have distanced her from missing the location.
4.) "Swarm in the room, sting you"
Allusion to bees who are a part of nature, this could imply that the relationship that the speaker experienced in this location came naturally to them however it quickly turned toxic and harmful.
Once bees sting they die, this could show that once the relationship turned negative the speakers close bond with the city faded as she had no positive or loving memories attached to it.
5.) "Who's head is a negative of itself"
This perhaps shows that the original colours and vibrancy of youth have been reversed and now they are drained of life causing them to grey and dull.
This could also suggest that the speakers aspirations and dreams have not come true and they are stuck in this stagnant place
Links to other poems=
Havisham and Adultery= All three poems convey a distorted imagery of marriage in the quotes "plastic confetti", "stabbed at the wedding cake" and "crumbled like a wedding cake"
Close- Both poems suggest that a home is a poisonous vice that damages the speakers life.
Nostalgia= The speaker of this poem returns to a location which had a lot of significance to them, however due to the progression of time and emotions, the feelings attached to this location have altered, similarly to the speaker of Never go Back
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