John agard poems

Flags are highly symbolic objects.

Flag poem john agard

However, here Agard juxtaposes his simple description of a flag as a 'piece of cloth' with the powerful symbolism of a flag. In other words, it's just a piece of cloth but has the power to bring a nation to its knees. He repeats this structure throughout the poem. The use of question at the start suggests that this poem constitutes a form of dialogue.

The image of people kneeling can be one of submission or reverence respect. Note the structure of the poem, five three-line stanzas. Each stanza follows an eight-six-eight syllable count which gives the poem a very fixed, rigid form. Each stanza opens with a question. There appears to be more than one voice in the poem, although this isn't completely clear.

Is someone asking these questions or is the speaker merely voicing a general question on behalf of others? The last line in this stanza is a reference to patriotism. Within the context of the poem the collective term 'men' can also be said to possess a metonymic quality in as much as 'men' could also represent an army, a nation, or a general term for humanity.

Can you find any other subtle references to the military? In the third stanza the flag is 'rising' over a tent, but what kind of tent?