Analyse af Vernon Scannells digt 'Incendiary'

Incendiary

That one small boy with a face like pallid cheese

And burnt-out little eyes could make a blaze

As brazen, fierce and huge, as red and gold

And zany yellow as the one that spoiled

Three thousand guineas' worth of property

And crops at Godwin's Farm on Saturday

Is frightening - as fact and metaphor:

An ordinary match intended for

The lighting of a pipe or kitchen fire

Misused may set a whole menagerie

Of flame-fanged tigers roaring hungrily.

And frightening, too, that one small boy should set

The sky on fire and choke the stars to heat

Such skinny limbs and such a little heart

Which would have been content with one warm kiss

Had there been anyone to offer this.Vernon Scannell

In the poem ”Incendiary” the poet Vernon Scannell present his thought and feelings about the boy who is mentioned in the poem, though many different themes and vocabulary including being scared of him and seeing him with such power at the same time. There are so many similes to do with colours in this poem, that it seems to be that each one is an emotion. Example, “face like pallid cheese” this means that his face is very pale and therefore the poet might seem to be sympathetic towards the boy. The poet feels a lot of sympathy for the boy because he have never felt the love of a mother. Example to show this expression, “Which would have been content with one warm kiss, had there been anyone to offer this”. The poet expresses awe and sees him having extreme power in his hands, “Flame fanged tigers” this shows that he has the immense power to control a strong beast, which means the poet is right in believing the boy has power. Even though the poet shows a lot of respect, he is also very scared of the boy’s power. “And frightening” the obvious word that indicates the expression of fear is “frightening”. This shows the mix of emotions forward the boy in the poem.