Overall message
The persona is preparing to say goodbye to her son who is going off to war- makes him look presentable
Context
Metaphor
‘Released a son bird from its cage’ -crying
Simile (2)
‘The world overflowing like a treasure chest’ - filled with gold- what the son is going to achieve
‘Like a wishbone’ - the persona is fragile and weak
End stop
‘When you were little.’ -he is not little anymore, she can no longer protect him- he’s going off to war
Present tense
‘Skirting the church yard walls’- the sin might have died at war
Rhythm and meter
Free verse- the persona is emotional