Speechless III: Structure & Language Techniques

Structural Overview

“Speechless III” utilises a free verse structure with varying line lengths, providing flexibility in presenting the complex inner world of the speaker.
The poem’s structure seems unpredictable, which could reflect the apparent randomness of the speaker’s thoughts and feelings.
Enjambment is employed frequently, giving the poem an unhurried pace that creates an introspective atmosphere.
The visual structure of the poem with scattered line breaks suggests the fragmented emotional state of the speaker.

Use of Language

Sam-La Rose uses evocative imagery and similes like ‘like the sky, / boundless’ to present the speaker’s emotional state and depth of feelings.
The tone of the language varies throughout the poem; sometimes self-deprecating, sometimes light-hearted, using humour as a coping mechanism.
The poem’s language sometimes verges on the prosaic, which can make the poem feel more like a conversation or inner monologue than a traditional poem.

Exploration of Identity & Emotion

The poem delves deep into personal and vulnerable emotions, exploring the speaker’s sense of self.
The speaker discusses the challenges of feeling marginalized and how that influences their sense of identity.
Concepts of loneliness, silence and isolation are prevalent; the speaker voices their feelings of being on the periphery of the community, creating a profound sense of empathy in the reader.

Symbolism and Metaphor

Sam-La Rose employs powerful metaphors like ‘words swallowed by an echo / of a mime’ to vividly convey the speaker’s feeling of being unheard, their words unacknowledged.
Symbolism is used to represent the speaker’s emotional state; for example, the imagery of being swallowed by an echo offers a visual metaphor for feeling unseen and unheard.
The title itself, “Speechless III”, is symbolic, suggesting the speaker’s ongoing struggle with communication and expressing their innermost feelings.

Context and Accent

The poem is influenced by Sam-La Rose’s experiences as a British-Guyanese individual, which offers authentic context.
The notion of “code-switching” is frequent, highlighting conversations about sociolinguistics, dialect and accent, investigating how the speaker balances multiple identities through language.
The occasional use of Caribbean Creole language illustrates the speaker’s connection to their Guyanese roots.

Tip: In your understanding of “Speechless III”, focus on how Sam-La Rose uses structure and language to express complex emotions and identity. Analyse the ways in which themes of identity and communication are explored through symbolism, metaphor and context.