Singh Song - Daljit Nagra
Poem Summary Title Analysis Form
Conflict
The narrator is a British Indian. He talks about his Family
Play on Bonds
words (pun). Reflects the poem’s light- Romantic
The poemLove has no regular rhyme scheme, but the
life working in his father’s corner shop. He’s just hearted and lyrical tone, as well as the narrator’s poet uses some rhymes throughout to create a
got married and keeps sneaking out of the shop to easy-going mindset, with little care for tradition. light-hearted tone. the poem features the voices of
spend time with his new wife. She Indian too but Traditional Indian surname “Singh” contrasts the the narrator’s wife and customers, showing how
dresses in British clothes and acts in a modern, narrator’s rebellious nature. The exclamative he fits into the community. It's like a song with
Western way. The narrator neglects his shop represents excitement and passion and reflects the verses and a chorus made form the repeated lines,
duties, and so his customers complain that he is new and loving relationship between the husband which makes it sound lively and rhythmic. There
bad running the shop. When the shop is shut, the and wife. The Indian and English word reflects the is little punctuation which makes the poem flow in
couple sit and talk. He tells his wife how much she merging between the two cultures and the love a way this is confident and cheerful. The rhyming
means to him. between him and his wife, cultural assimilation. couplets throughout the poem creates a rhythm.
Context Tone Structure
Daljit Nagra’s parents came from India to Britain
Key Quotes Semantic fields
Throughout the poem there is a feeling of love Relationship
The poem alternates between descriptions of the
and his family opened up a corner shop in from the narrator for his bride. He enjoys spending narrator’s marriage and his customers complaints.
Sheffield. He wanted to use Indian dialect as he time with her. His wife's online dating agency the repeated complaints emphasise how often he
felt it had been made fun of. The poem was could emphasise the new generation’s modern neglects his work. at the end of the poem, the pace
published in 2007. attitude to love. There is also a prevalent theme of slows down to reflect the intimate scene, and the
rebellion. The narrator’s wife makes fun of his couple’s similar language emphasise their
parents. He seems to find her lack of respect closeness. The caesura at the end of the poem
amusing and so her impressions are presented as leaves it hanging off to the final word and allows
Compare with acceptable and even endearing. The narrator also the reader to look to the future.
rebels against his father stricter rules about
Follower working hours by sneaking off all the time.
Mother, any distance…
Sonnet 29: I think of thee!
