Simon Armitage's Poem Mother Any Distance

In Simon Armitage’s poem, “Mother any distance is greater than a single span,” the writer uses language techniques such as word choice and metaphors to develop the ideas about the harsh realities of life when gaining independence. Armitage’s language features gradually convey the ideas that mothers will go to great lengths to make sure that they are comfortable, making the child become dependent on the mother. As a result, children are desperate to leave home and parents find it difficult to let go of their children.

Mother’s will go to great lengths to protect their children developing the idea that it is a mother’s natural instinct. The relationship between the mothers is conveyed through the metaphor, “the acres of the wall, the prairies of the floors” suggesting the bond between them. The ‘acres’ and ‘prairies’ compare the huge lengths the mother …show more content…
As a result developing the theme that children find it hesitant to leave. When the son is measuring the room he is “reporting metres, centimetres” representing his small steps into the world hesitantly. He is “reporting…. Back to base”, still keeping in touch and relying on his mother as he moves away emotionally and physically. But the roles reverse when the child grows up and the parents grow old. The body grows old the parent is heavily reliant on the child and the child takes on the role of the adult. When he is “feeding” out the line and “leaving” up the stairs, the writer uses the words in the present tense to suggest that the son is in the process of gaining independence and finding his identity. But he still goes back and to his mother to ask her about her opinion or advice on something. Life throws difficult problems at us, but our parents can’t solve these issues all the time, as they won’t be here forever to guide