Quotes and annotations

“For the green turtle with her pulsing burden,

in search of the breeding ground.

For her eggs laid in their nest of sickness.”

‘green’ (adjective) → life, peace and nature represents hope and renewal in nature. natural imagery

‘eggs’ (noun) → new generation, helpless

‘nest of sickness’ → oxymoron, nest is often seen as a safe place but here it contrasts with the idea of sickness, suggesting that even in safe places there is danger.

juxtaposition → war can destroy all natural life

“the whale struck dumb by the missile’s thunder”

‘whale’ (noun) → peaceful animal, natural, the whale has been personified. beauty is disregarded by conflict

‘struck dumb’ → effect of war

‘missile’s thunder’ → metaphor, now voices are being silenced by the missiles thunder.

“the scalded ocean and the blazing well.

For vengeance, and the ashes of language.”

‘scalded ocean’ → imagery of destruction, water as a source of life is harmed; represents the consequences of war.
‘blazing well’ → juxtaposition of fire and water, suggesting chaos.
‘vengeance’ → theme of retribution, highlighting the desire for revenge in wartime. bitterness after war, death of innocent people

‘ashes of language’ → represents loss of communication and meaning, indicating that language fails in the context of violence. shows that conflict is hidden

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