‘Homing‘ by Liz Berry is a deeply evocative poem that explores themes of language, identity, and the longing for one’s roots. Through vivid imagery and poignant storytelling, Berry delves into the experience of a person who has suppressed their original accent, only to later yearn for its return. The poem’s structure, rhyme scheme, and meter contribute to the emotional resonance of the narrative.
Homing | Summary and Analysis
The poem is structured into three stanzas of varying lengths, each containing distinct moments or reflections. This structure allows for a progression of thoughts and emotions, from the initial suppression of the accent to the desire to reclaim it and the longing for a connection to one’s heritage. The poem does not follow a consistent rhyme scheme, contributing to its conversational and narrative style. Some lines rhyme (e.g., ‘bed’ and ‘head’), while others do not. This irregular rhyme scheme reflects the authenticity of the speaker’s voice and emotions. The poem is primarily written in free verse, allowing for a fluid and flexible structure. The use of enjambment (continuing a sentence or phrase from one line to the next without a pause) enhances the flow of the narrative and captures the speaker’s introspective journey. The poem does not adhere to a strict metrical pattern. Instead, it uses natural speech rhythms and pauses to convey the emotions and experiences of the speaker. This choice lends the poem an authentic and relatable quality.
Homing | Analysis, Lines 1-5
‘For years you kept your accent
in a box beneath the bed,
the lock rusted shut by hours of elocution
how now brown cow
the teacher’s ruler across your legs.’
In these lines, Liz Berry explores the impact of education and societal expectations on an individual’s cultural identity. The speaker describes how they ‘kept [their] accent in a box beneath the bed,’ implying that they concealed their natural way of speaking to conform to societal norms or expectations. The metaphor of the lock ‘rusted shut by hours of elocution’ illustrates the effort and difficulty involved in suppressing one’s accent. Elocution refers to the practice of teaching proper pronunciation and speech, often associated with conforming to a standard or ‘proper’ way of speaking. The reference to ‘how now brown cow’ is an example of the type of exercise used to teach elocution. The mention of the teacher’s ruler across the legs adds a physical dimension to the poem, highlighting the coercive and disciplinary aspects of the process. This could symbolize the pressure to conform and the consequences of not doing so.
These lines poignantly convey the idea of cultural suppression and the loss of one’s natural accent due to societal pressures and education. It explores the tension between conforming to societal expectations and maintaining one’s authentic cultural identity. The lines are concise and structured, reflecting the idea of containment and suppression. The use of vivid imagery and metaphorical language helps convey the emotional and physical aspects of the experience. The image of keeping one’s accent ‘in a box beneath the bed’ is metaphorical, symbolizing the speaker’s efforts to hide or suppress their natural way of speaking. It conveys a sense of confinement and restriction. The lines use imagery to depict the lock on the box ‘rusted shut by hours of elocution,’ suggesting that the process of altering one’s accent was burdensome and restrictive. The mention of the teacher’s ruler across the legs evokes a sense of discipline and coercion.
Homing | Analysis, Lines 6-10
‘We heard it escape sometimes,
a guttural uh on the phone to your sister,
saft or blart to a taxi driver
unpacking your bags from his boot.
I loved its thick drawl, g’s that rang.’
In these lines, Liz Berry celebrates the distinctiveness of a particular accent or way of speaking. The speaker describes how they and others ‘heard it escape sometimes,’ emphasizing that the accent is not constant but surfaces occasionally. The use of ‘a guttural uh’ on the phone to the speaker’s sister and words like ‘saft’ and ‘blart’ when speaking to a taxi driver illustrates the phonetic qualities of the accent. These moments of pronunciation are seen as endearing and distinctive by the speaker, who expresses their affection by saying, ‘I loved its thick drawl, g’s that rang.’ The appreciation for the accent suggests a deep connection to the person who possesses it, possibly a loved one. It also conveys the idea that accents and regional dialects are an essential part of one’s identity and add richness to language.
These lines highlight the beauty and uniqueness of language and accent, emphasizing the significance of these qualities in shaping personal identity and connections with others. The phonetic representations and specific scenarios contribute to the poem’s vivid and sensory imagery. The lines are concise and descriptive, highlighting specific instances when the accent is noticeable. The use of vivid imagery and phonetic representations adds depth to the portrayal of the accent. The use of ‘saft’ and ‘blart’ as phonetic representations of speech conveys the distinctive quality of the accent. These words create a sense of sound and rhythm in the poem. The lines employ imagery to depict moments when the accent is heard, such as ‘on the phone to your sister’ and ‘unpacking your bags from his boot.’ These specific scenarios provide context for the accent’s occurrence.
Homing | Analysis, Lines 11-15
‘Clearing your house, the only thing
I wanted was that box, jemmied open
to let years of lost words spill out –
bibble, fittle, tay, wum,
vowels ferrous as nails, consonants.’
In these lines, the speaker describes the act of clearing a house and coming across a box filled with forgotten or unfamiliar words. The phrase ‘jemmied open’ suggests that the box was forcefully opened, emphasizing the speaker’s eagerness to access its contents. The words inside the box, such as ‘bibble, fittle, tay, wum,’ are described as having been lost or forgotten over time. The use of these uncommon words adds a sense of nostalgia and curiosity. The words are depicted as if they were tangible and long-awaited, as though they have been waiting to be released and heard once again. The phrase ‘vowels ferrous as nails’ implies that these vowels are strong and enduring, while ‘consonants’ are left unelaborated, suggesting that they, too, are an essential part of this collection of lost words.
These lines convey a sense of longing for language and the beauty of words. The act of discovering and unlocking the box symbolizes the exploration of language and the joy of finding and appreciating words that may have fallen out of common usage. The lines evoke a sense of wonder and reverence for the richness of language and the words that shape our communication and understanding of the world. The lines are concise and evoke a sense of discovery and curiosity. The use of vivid and unusual words adds depth to the depiction of the contents of the box. The lines use imagery to describe the act of opening the box and letting the words spill out. This imagery portrays the words as if they were physically contained and eagerly waiting to be set free. The phrase ‘vowels ferrous as nails’ employs alliteration, which adds a musical quality to the text and emphasizes the strength and durability of these vowels.
Homing | Analysis, Lines 16-20
‘you could lick the coal from.
I wanted to swallow them all: the pits,
railways, factories thunking and clanging
the night shift, the red brick
back-to-back you were born in.’
In these lines, the speaker expresses a deep connection to the industrial and mining heritage of a place. The phrase ‘you could lick the coal from’ implies that the remnants of this heritage are so tangible and present that they feel almost edible, emphasizing the intimacy of the connection. The speaker’s desire to ‘swallow them all: the pits, railways, factories thunking and clanging’ conveys a longing to absorb and internalize the history and culture associated with these elements. The vivid imagery of factories producing sounds and the night shift at work paints a picture of a bustling industrial landscape. The mention of ‘the red brick back-to-back you were born in’ adds a personal and nostalgic touch, suggesting that the speaker may have a personal connection to this place and its history. The phrase ‘back-to-back’ refers to a type of housing common in industrial areas, highlighting the working-class background of the place.
These lines convey a strong sense of attachment and admiration for the industrial and mining heritage of a location. They evoke a longing to preserve and internalize the tangible remnants of this history, emphasizing the significance of place and culture in shaping individual identity and connection to the past. The use of vivid imagery helps paint a picture of the setting and its significance. The lines employ vivid imagery to describe the industrial elements of the landscape, such as ‘pits,’ ‘railways,’ ‘factories thunking and clanging,’ and ‘the red brick back-to-back.’ These images evoke a strong sense of place and history. The phrase ‘you could lick the coal from’ uses metaphorical language to suggest that the industrial landscape is so present and pervasive that it can be consumed or tasted. This metaphor adds a sensory dimension to the description.
Homing | Analysis, Lines 21-25
‘I wanted to forge your voice
in my mouth, a blacksmith’s furnace;
shout it from the roofs,
send your words, like pigeons,
fluttering for home.’
In these lines, the speaker expresses a profound desire to assimilate and communicate another person’s voice as if it were their own. The metaphor of ‘a blacksmith’s furnace’ highlights the intensity and transformative nature of this desire, as if the act of forging could make the other person’s voice a part of the speaker’s identity. The speaker’s wish to ‘shout it from the roofs’ indicates a strong desire to amplify and share this voice with others. This desire to broadcast the voice from a high vantage point suggests a longing for a broad and widespread connection, as if the words possess a universal significance. The comparison of ‘your words, like pigeons, fluttering for home’ adds depth to the imagery, portraying the words as messengers carrying a sense of belonging and familiarity. The idea of ‘home’ implies a deep emotional connection to the source of the voice.
These lines convey a sense of yearning, a desire to embrace and share the essence of another person’s voice. The metaphorical and imaginative language used in these lines illustrates the profound impact that someone’s words or voice can have on an individual, to the point where they want to make it a part of themselves and share it with the world. The use of vivid imagery and metaphors adds depth to the speaker’s desire to embrace and disseminate another person’s voice. The metaphor of ‘a blacksmith’s furnace’ is used to describe the act of forging someone else’s voice in the speaker’s mouth. This metaphor suggests a process of transformation and creation.The imagery of ‘shout it from the roofs’ conveys the idea of the speaker wanting to proclaim and share this voice with the world. The comparison of words to pigeons emphasizes the desire to send them flying, symbolizing a connection to home and familiarity.
Homing | About the Author
Liz Berry is a contemporary British poet known for her exploration of themes related to regional identity and the importance of preserving one’s cultural roots. ‘Homing‘ is a striking example of her work, as it addresses the idea of reclaiming one’s authentic self and the significance of language in shaping our sense of belonging. It is a poignant exploration of language and identity, portraying the deep connection between one’s accent, heritage, and sense of self. The poem’s structure and form enhance the narrative’s emotional impact, making it a moving and resonant piece of contemporary poetry.
