“Poppies” by Jane Weir, GCSE poetry.

The poem:

Poppies by Jane Weir

Three days before Armistice Sunday 
and poppies had already been placed 
on individual war graves. Before you left, 
I pinned one onto your lapel, crimped petals, 
spasms of paper red, disrupting a blockade 
of yellow bias binding around your blazer.

Sellotape bandaged around my hand,
I rounded up as many white cat hairs 
as I could, smoothed down your shirt’s 
upturned collar, steeled the softening 
of my face. I wanted to graze my nose 
across the tip of your nose, play at 
being Eskimos like we did when
you were little. I resisted the impulse 
to run my fingers through the gelled 
blackthorns of your hair. All my words 
flattened, rolled, turned into felt,

slowly melting. I was brave, as I walked 
with you, to the front door, threw 
it open, the world overflowing 
like a treasure chest. A split second 
and you were away, intoxicated. 
After you’d gone I went into your bedroom, 
released a song bird from its cage. 
Later a single dove flew from the pear tree, 
and this is where it has led me, 
skirting the church yard walls, my stomach busy 
making tucks, darts, pleats, hat-less, without 
a winter coat or reinforcements of scarf, gloves.

On reaching the top of the hill I traced 
the inscriptions on the war memorial, 
leaned against it like a wishbone. 
The dove pulled freely against the sky, 
an ornamental stitch. I listened, hoping to hear 
your playground voice catching on the wind.

Introduction

Jane Weir’s “Poppies” is a deeply emotive and introspective poem from the AQA GCSE Power and Conflict anthology. Unlike many other poems in the collection that present the brutality of war from a soldier’s or a historical perspective, “Poppies” explores the theme of conflict from the viewpoint of those left behind — in this case, a mother grieving the departure and likely death of her son. First published in 2009, the poem resonates with both contemporary and historical sensibilities, making it a poignant commentary on the lasting impact of war.

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Historical Context

“Poppies” was written by Weir as part of a commission by Carol Ann Duffy, the then Poet Laureate, to create a collection marking contemporary warfare. Although the poem is not about a specific war, it draws heavily on the symbol of the poppy, which is synonymous with Remembrance Day (Armistice Day) in the UK. The poppy commemorates soldiers who have died in wars since World War I, when the red flowers famously bloomed across Flanders fields.

The emotional tone of the poem is very much rooted in the 21st-century conflicts, such as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and reflects the experiences of mothers and families who have seen young men and women go off to war and not return.

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Themes

1. Conflict and Loss

At its core, “Poppies” is about personal loss and the domestic impact of war. Unlike other war poems that show physical violence and suffering, Weir focuses on emotional pain.

“I traced / the inscriptions on the war memorial”

This quote reflects how war has permanently altered the speaker’s life — the son is gone, and the mother clings to whatever fragments remain.

2. Memory and Grief

The entire poem is a memory, rich in reflection. The mother revisits moments with her son, from his childhood to his departure, creating a timeless mourning that echoes across every stanza.

“Before you left, I pinned one onto your lapel”

The act of pinning the poppy becomes symbolic — a last gesture of care and affection.

3. Parental Love and Protection

The maternal perspective gives the poem emotional depth. The speaker is filled with protective instincts that she can no longer fulfill. Her child has grown, left, and likely died.

“I resisted the impulse / to run my fingers through the gelled blackthorns of your hair”

The phrase “resisted the impulse” shows the restraint the mother feels — she wants to hold on, but knows she cannot.

4. Freedom vs. Constraint

There’s a sense of tension between the freedom of the son to go to war and the constraint of the mother’s emotions. She is bound by worry, fear, and eventually grief.

“The world overflowing like a treasure chest”

This simile evokes youthful excitement and opportunity for the son — a stark contrast to the mother’s internal emptiness.

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Key Literary Devices

1. Symbolism

• Poppies themselves are the most prominent symbol, representing both remembrance and death.

• The war memorial, intoxicated voice, and door are other symbols, respectively showing memory, death, and departure.

2. Imagery

Weir uses rich visual and tactile imagery to show the intensity of the mother’s emotions.

“Spasms of paper red, disrupting a blockade / of yellow bias binding around your blazer”

This violent image of “spasms” contrasts with the domestic detail of sewing, blending the public and private spheres of war.

3. Enjambment and Caesura

The lack of strict form mirrors the free-flowing, overwhelming nature of grief. Enjambment helps create a stream-of-consciousness effect, while caesura breaks the lines with pauses that reflect sobs or hesitations.

4. Alliteration and Assonance

These sound devices slow down the pace, adding solemnity and rhythm.

“softening of my face”, “smoothed down your shirt’s / upturned collar”

These gentle sounds contrast with the harshness of the mother’s reality.

5. Metaphor

• “the gelled blackthorns of your hair” — blackthorns are a metaphor for danger and pain, subtly implying the risk the son is heading into.

• “a split second and you were away, intoxicated” — intoxicated by the excitement of adventure or possibly by propaganda.

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Challenging Vocabulary Explained

Some words and phrases might be unfamiliar or abstract to a modern UK teenager:

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Structure and Form

• The poem is written in free verse, lacking a set rhyme scheme or meter. This makes it feel more like a natural thought process or internal monologue.

• It consists of four stanzas, of varying length, representing different stages of the mother’s memory and grief.

• The use of first-person narrative heightens intimacy and emotional authenticity.

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Comparison with Other AQA Power and Conflict Poems

1. “War Photographer” by Carol Ann Duffy

Both poems reflect on the indirect effects of war:

• “War Photographer” focuses on a professional processing the horrors of war through photos.

• “Poppies” is more personal, showing a mother’s emotional processing.

Both use contrasts — home vs. warzone, memory vs. present — and explore isolation and guilt.

2. “Remains” by Simon Armitage

• “Remains” shows psychological trauma after war; “Poppies” shows emotional trauma at home.

• Both use colloquial and accessible language, though Weir’s is more lyrical.

3. “Kamikaze” by Beatrice Garland

• “Kamikaze” also explores family perspective, particularly shame and silence.

• Both poems deal with parent-child relationships and the cost of patriotic duty.

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How to Achieve a Grade 9

1. Compare, Don’t Just List

In comparative questions, always draw direct links between poems.

🔑 Instead of:
“Poppies is about a mother’s grief. War Photographer is about a photographer.”

✅ Try:
“Both Poppies and War Photographer explore emotional aftermaths of conflict — the former from a familial perspective and the latter from a professional lens — highlighting the varied psychological costs of war.”

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2. Embed Quotes Effectively

Use short embedded quotes and analyse each word.

🛑 Avoid:
“In the quote ‘I was brave, as I walked with you,’ the mother is brave.”

✅ Try:
The echo of the son’s bravery in the mother’s claim — “I was brave” — reveals her emotional strength in concealing grief, aligning maternal courage with battlefield bravery.

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3. Zoom into Language

Explore individual word choices and their connotations.

The “blackthorns” metaphor evokes both physical sharpness and spiritual suffering, reminiscent of the biblical crown of thorns — suggesting martyrdom and sacrifice.

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4. Use Literary Terms Confidently

Use terms like:

• Enjambment

• Juxtaposition

• Semantic field

• Symbolism

• Caesura
  …but make sure to explain how they add meaning.

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5. Explore Multiple Interpretations

Show awareness that poetry is open to interpretation.

“Intoxicated” could reflect the son’s excitement about war — or his brainwashing by propaganda. This ambiguity mirrors the mother’s uncertainty.

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6. Contextual Awareness

Even brief contextual touches can elevate your answer:

• Link the poem to Remembrance Day and contemporary military conflicts.

• Mention Weir’s background as a textile designer and poet, which adds layers to the domestic imagery.

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Conclusion

“Poppies” by Jane Weir is a richly textured poem that deals with grief, memory, and the emotional casualties of war. Through powerful imagery, intimate voice, and sophisticated structure, Weir presents a side of war not often explored — that of those left behind. When compared with other poems in the Power and Conflict anthology, it stands out for its unique domestic lens and deep emotional resonance. By examining the poem’s themes, literary devices, context, and by comparing it carefully to other texts, students can develop the critical insight needed for a Grade 9.