Mother, Any Distance by Simon Armitage is a contemporary poem that explores the theme of love within the context of a mother-son relationship. Through the extended metaphor of measuring and laying down carpet, the poet reflects on the emotional journey of a son leaving home and gaining independence, while also acknowledging the enduring bond with his mother. Armitage uses vivid imagery and innovative structure to convey the depth of the maternal bond and the complexities of growing up. You can read the poem below and find analysis further down the page.
Mother, Any Distance by Simon Armitage
Mother, any distance greater than a single span
requires a second pair of hands.
You come to help me measure windows, pelmets, doors,
the acres of the walls, the prairies of the floors.
You at the zero-end, me with the spool of tape, recording
length, reporting metres, centimetres back to base, then leaving
up the stairs, the line still feeding out, unreeling
years between us. Anchor. Kite.
I space-walk through the empty bedrooms, climb
the ladder to the loft, to breaking point, where something
has to give;
two floors below your fingertips still pinch
the last one-hundredth of an inch...I reach
towards a hatch that opens on an endless sky
to fall or fly.
My father thought it bloody queer,
the day I rolled home with a ring of silver in my ear
half hidden by a mop of hair. 'You've lost your head.
If that's how easily you're led
you should've had it through your nose instead.'
And even then I hadn't had the nerve to numb
the lobe with ice, then drive a needle through the skin,
then wear a safety-pin. It took a jeweller's gun
to pierce the flesh, and then a friend
to thread a sleeper in, and where it slept
the hole became a sore, became a wound, and wept.
At twenty-nine, it comes as no surprise to hear
my own voice breaking like a tear, released like water,
cried from way back in the spiral of the ear. If I were you,
I'd take it out and leave it out next year.
Structure:
The poem consists of three stanzas, each with a varying number of lines, reflecting the progression of time and distance in the son's journey.
Armitage employs a mix of end-stopped lines and enjambment, creating a fluid and dynamic rhythm that mirrors the son's movement and emotional growth.
The poem concludes with a single-line stanza, emphasising the significance of the final moment of departure.
Analysis:
Title: The title "Mother, Any Distance" immediately establishes the central relationship in the poem and hints at the theme of separation and longing.
Extended Metaphor: The act of measuring and laying down carpet serves as an extended metaphor for the son's journey of gaining independence while maintaining a connection with his mother. Each measurement represents a stage in the son's life, from leaving home to establishing his own identity.
Imagery and Language: Armitage employs vivid imagery and tactile language to depict the physical act of laying carpet, while also conveying the emotional depth of the son's experience. Phrases like "anchor. Kite." and "acres of the walls, the prairies of the floors" evoke a sense of vastness and possibility.
Maternal Love and Support: Despite the son's physical distance from his mother, there is a sense of her enduring presence and support throughout the poem. The mother's voice echoes in the son's mind, offering encouragement and guidance as he navigates the challenges of independence.
Ambiguity and Interpretation: The poem's open-ended conclusion leaves room for interpretation, inviting readers to reflect on the complexities of the mother-son relationship and the bittersweet nature of growing up.
Themes:
Maternal Love and Sacrifice: The poem celebrates the unconditional love and sacrifice of mothers, highlighting the profound impact of maternal support on a child's journey to adulthood.
Independence and Identity: Armitage explores the theme of independence and self-discovery, as the son embarks on a journey to establish his own identity separate from his mother.
Longing and Separation: The poem conveys a sense of longing and separation, as the son grapples with the emotional distance between himself and his mother, even as he physically moves away.
Key Quotes:
"You come to help me measure windows, pelmets, doors,"
"You at the zero-end, me with the spool of tape,"
"Anchor. Kite."
"Acres of the walls, the prairies of the floors,"
"I space-walk through the empty bedrooms, climb"
"Endless sky."
Conclusion:
Mother, Any Distance by Simon Armitage is a poignant exploration of the mother-son relationship, capturing the emotional complexities of growing up and gaining independence. Through vivid imagery and innovative structure, Armitage invites readers to reflect on the enduring bond between mother and child, while also acknowledging the inevitability of change and separation.
You can find analysis of all the Love and Relationships Poetry Anthology Poems here.
