After Lazerdrome, McDonalds, Peckham Rye: Key Quotes

“They’re deep in chat, spinning yard,” - This phrase shows Sam-La Rose utilising local dialects to bring out an authentic portrayal of his contemporaries. “Yard” in London slang often refers to a story or tale, emphasising the flow and vibrancy of conversation.
“Language flows – is fluid, blooding tongues with straight borders…” - highlighting the powerful and dynamic nature of language, and its role to define and differentiate individuals and communities.

“Peckham feels like another country—” - Suggests a sense of cultural alienation within one’s city, embodies the poet’s exploration of the idea of home, identity and belonging.
“South Circular’s calling each corner boy back to his homebirds” - Depicts a strong sense of belonging tied to the geography of the city.

“Gun fingers in the air, and a gunshot rings.” - This quote starkly encapsulates the reality of occasional violence in urban spaces, contrasting the playfulness and camaraderie of the earlier quotes.
“…fast food boys with their hearts caged in steel.” - By referring to hearts caged in steel, Sam-La Rose delves into the idea of hardened and protective exteriors, as a response to the harsh realities of growing up in certain urban settings.

“Night’s folding its wings and the diamond dawn’s edging in…” - Beautiful imagery used by Sam-La Rose to personify the dawn, highlighting the end of a day, symbolic of end of adolescence.
“From the corner of his eye—one of them spots the first glow of sunrise” - Suggests a moment of revelation or transition, may hint at the impending maturity and changes that come with growing up.

Make connections between the language used in ‘After Lazerdrome’ and wider themes present across Sam-La Rose’s works.
Notice how these quotes indicate the location of Peckham to enforce a sense of identity and place.
Understand that Sam-La Rose uses the night and dawn to symbolise the end of childhood and the edge of maturity, representing the theme of coming-of-age and transformation.
Discuss how the sense of violence manages to capture the harsh realities of urban youth growing up in disadvantaged areas; a prominent theme in Sam-La Rose’s poetry.