War Photographer Carol Ann Duffy

'In his darkroom he is finally alone'

The word choice of 'darkroom' highlights the bleak working space of the photographer. This suggests that the job has a negative mental impact on him - he is literally in a dark place. The phrase 'finally alone' at the end of the sentence emphasises his loneliness and his separation from his photograph subjects, editors and readers [inversion]. The word choice of 'finally' suggests that he longs for solitude in order to escape something.

'spools of suffering set out in ordered rows'

The alliteration created by the 's' sound helps to emphasises the evil contained within the film and photos. The assonance of the vowel sound 'o' mirrors repetition and the layout of the film. This suggests that there are many photos. The phrase 'ordered rows' conveys an image of mass graves which are linked to the horrors of war. 'Ordered' brings attention to the methodical way of working and this links to the rigid rhyme scheme of the poem.

'The only light is red and softly glows'

The word choice of 'only' continues the idea of solitude. The speaker uses an extended metaphor to compare the photographer's 'darkroom' to a Church. The phrase 'softly glows' mimics a sanctuary lamp found in Churches which gives the impression of the photographer using the space as a confessional. By comparing his space to a Church in this way, he is seeking relief, just as a church-goer would seek relief from their faith. The colour 'red' symbolises blood, violence and anger, which are all impacts of war.

'as though this were a church and he // a priest preparing to intone a Mass'

Further expanding on the use of an extended metaphor, the developing room is compared to a church and his work to preparing a service. This shows the photographer's attitude to his work which is very solemn and almost sacred. Like a priest, he is exposed to death. His job is to share a message or story that could be life-changing. The use of visual imagery and photo's represent God's word being eternal.

'Belfast. Beirut. Phnom Penh.'

The consecutive short sentences come across as blunt and functional. The full stops could also represent bullets. These are all places which have experienced civil war or genocide. While this conveys his role (replacing words of 'service' with names of war), it could suggest that the poet's feelings of moral discomfort are appearing. Juxtaposition with a list is ironic.

'All flesh is grass.'

This biblical reference conveys an image of mass graves and bodies turning to grass. Human life is transient, fragile and grief-ridden due to war. The suffering of the photographed victims is ongoing, but his photos are a frozen moment.

'He has a job to do.'

The short, simple and blunt sentence reflects the blunt matter of fact approach he had to take at his work. Readers should question if this is an excuse or a justification.

'solutions slop in trays'

Solutions are the liquid used to develop the pictures, it also suggests 'the solution' or answer to a problem. In this case, the answer to the problem of war is sloppy/ unclear.

'beneath his hands which did not tremble then // though seem to now'

The use of enjambement highlights that although the hands of the photographer were steady whilst amongst the warzones, now that he has returned home, he feels anxious and isolated.

'Rural England.'

The minor sentence (a sentence with no verb) shows the contrast to simple, relaxed life in England to the warzones.

‘Rural England’

'Home again, to ordinary pain which simple weather can dispel'

This oxymoron makes the reader evaluate which pain is necessary. It contrasts simple worries which are cured by blue skies, to the real pain that people living within warzones deal with.

'to fields which don't explode beneath the feet // of running children in a nightmare heat'

The word choice of 'explode' is vivid and reflects the sudden, catastrophic impact of war on people. The word 'beneath' brings the reader back to the idea of a camera as the photographer zooms in for a shot. This emphasises the contrast between the safety at home and the danger of his job. The most disturbing aspect of this contrasting image, is the children who suffer. The word 'nightmare' intensifies the poem's mood.

'Something is happening.'

The short sentence builds suspense for the reader. The vague word choice of 'something' is deliberately unclear. This mirrors the unclear photos which are developing as well as the unclear feelings of the photographer as he grapples with the moral consequences of his job.

'A stranger's features // faintly start to twist before his eyes.'

The word 'stranger's' highlights a sense of removal and detachment from society on behalf of the photographer. The continuous theme of isolation and invasion is shown here. The word choice of 'twist' could refer to the processing of the photo, but it also alludes to the pain and the suffering of those living amongst war and, more specifically, the stranger in the photograph. Not only does this have connotations of the shock, horror and pain of dying, but also allows us to consider the anguish of the photographer himself. Once again, the photographer morally struggles.

'a half-formed ghost'

The first photo has developed. Just as an image developing would seem faint, so too does a ghost's fluid shape. This implies that the person in the photo is dead, but also that the photographs haunt the photographer.

'He remembers the cries // of this man's wife, how he sought approval // without words'

As the photo develops, memories of the incidents come back to him which suggests that they are traumatising to him. The photographer feels awkward as he invades the privacy of a couple's last moments together. He is in a moral dilemma. The sounds of the wife's pain has stuck in his mind. The phrase 'without words' suggests a breakdown in communication - the photographer does not have the words to describe his anguish whilst also highlighting that war is often caused by a breakdown of communication.

'to do what someone must'

‘to do what someone must’

The impersonal tone of this phrase highlights that he finds his job morally challenging - he tries to justify it.

'how the blood stained into foreign dust'

As blood represents war, stained represents its permanence. The word 'foreign' reinforces the idea of isolation, as the photographer is a long way from home. It also suggests that we tend to ignore the horrors of war as they happen somewhere far away so we can turn a blind eye to them.

'a hundred agonies in black-and-white'

This phrase conveys the sheer mass of suffering experienced by victims of war and that each have their own unique stories. These memories will solely remain with the photographer as he has captured some of their most intimate moments of pain. The phrase 'black-and-white' could literally represent the colour of the photographs or it could suggest the conflict between good and bad, which the photographer is trying to fight morally.

'from which the editor will pick out five or six // for Sunday's supplement'

This contrasts the 'hundred agonies' as it has a very careless attitude. Only 5% of his work will be shown because 95% is not worthy of publication. He condemns the press. It is ironic that Sunday is a holy day - the sabbath. The war photographer shows anger that the horrors of war are trivialised, and are not even worthy of headlines.

'prick // with tears between bath and pre-lunch beers.'

The reader's reaction is worse than the editors in the opinion of the war photographer. There is fleeting concern within society for the world issues as the word 'prick' shows the almost tears the readers have before going back to enjoying their luxuries.

'From the aeroplane he stares impassively.'

This suggests that he has become numb to his jobs. This links back to 'he has a job to do' and to 'earn a living' etc. Readers need to consider if the photographer could do this job if he was more emotionally attached

'they do not care.'

The assonance sound of 'ay' helps to represent the photographer's feeling of drudgery. He is resigned to the way things are. The speaker is condemning and criticising the public whilst also feeling isolated in their horror. The photographer finds it difficult to return to his normal society as he feels much resentment.