Prayer for the Children of Longing (Quotes)

“Here at the heart of the forest, here at the heart of the city”.

• Juxtaposition between the peaceful forest and the hustle and bustle at the heart of the city.

• Shows contrast to emphasise point- a common theme in the poem.

• Repeated at the end of the poem bringing it to a full circle.

“Grant us the clarity of ice, the comfort of snow”

• Shows that all the community wants is a moment of peace and direction.

• Imagery of nature helps enhance the line.

“For one moment to freeze”

• Shows reason for longing peace: break from the world around them.

“The scream, the siren, the knock on the door, the needle in its track, the knife in the back”

• Goes off on a tangent showing vivid images of what goes on in the streets.

• Alliteration of “th” speeds up the poem and gives the stanza the impression of a list.

• Repetition of “ck” makes the images more jarring.

“The song of the children of the longing”

“The breath of the children of longing”

• The children whom were victims of the streets.

• The children who families longed for a better life for.

“The streets that defeated them, that brought them to their knees”

• Personification of the streets as someone who destroyed the kids.

• Alliteration of “th” brings back the listing tone.

“That promised them everything, that delivered nothing”

• Personification of the streets yet again.

• Shows how they were promised a good life but never got it.

“That spellbound them in alleyways”

• Reference to the heroine crisis leading them to alleyways to do drugs.

“The streets we brought them home to”

• Shows that despite the damage the streets done, it was still their homes.

• Sad tone as reader visualises the people being buried on the same streets that killed them, not even escaping physically by death.

“Let their names be”

• Repeated in the 6th stanza numerous times.

• Gives off a prayer-tone like they’re praying to the tree.