The Emigreé - Carol Rumens

What does “The Emigreé” infer?

An emigreé is a woman who has chosen or has been forced to. Leave her home country and live somewhere else

Context

Carol Rumens was born in London but also lived in Belfast and Wales. She also widely travelled throughout Russia and Eastern Europe. The aspect of her life is reflected in her writing which is largely about foreign customs, cultures and languages

Summary

About somebody who has to leave their country as a child to be safe. They’re looking back affectionately whilst suffering with discrimination in their new country

Structure/Form

In a free verse (no rhyme or rhythm) which could represent the chaos and lack of control over a country with no stable government

Themes/Comparisons

Power of humans, memory and loss (Poppies), identity (Checking Out Me History)

“I comb its hair and love its shining eyes”

Personification, exposes the speaker’s love and afffection towards the city. A childish images, shows a sense of innocence

“It may be at war, it may be sick with tyrants”

The eject I’ve “sick” highlights how conflict d’ambages the people living there and the city. Repetition of “may” could imply uncertainty of what happened since she hasn’t been to her city since his was a child