Originally: Stanza Two

Overview of Stanza Two in “Originally”

The second stanza of “Originally” presents the unsettling journey the speaker embarks on due to their family’s decision to migrate.
This section communicates the confusion and melancholy tied to the unfamiliar environment and the longing for what is left behind.
The emphasis is on the physical displacement that is keenly felt by the speaker, the fear of unknown and the regret over lost familiarity.

Key Themes of Stanza Two in “Originally”

Alienation and Displacement: The phrase “All childhood is an emigration” reflects the universal sense of displacement and the anxiety attached to growing up and changing.
Change and Adaptation: The speaker is extremely anxious and uncertain, inciting subsequent feelings of fear and confusion.
Nostalgia and Loss: The concept of ‘home’ and the yearning for it is a poignant aspect of this stanza. The speaker’s sense of loss represents the emotional impact of migration.

Analysis of Language and Imagery in Stanza Two of “Originally”

The personification of the cities as “blind and dumb” illustrates their confusion and unfamiliarity with the new environment.
The use of direct speech, “I want our own country”, shows the speaker’s yearning for the familiar and their difficulty in accepting change.
Metaphorical phrases like “red room fell through the fields” effectively communicate a sense of displacement due to the sudden shift in the landscape.
The alliteration in phrases such as “fell through the fields” induces a rhythmic motion that mimics the train’s movement, further reflecting the constant change in scenery due to the journey.

In this stanza, Carol Ann Duffy probes into the disorientation, uncertainty, and sense of loss associated with migration. The narrative primarily concentrates on the emotional turmoil accompanying a shift from familiar to unfamiliar territories.