A Comparison of Homecoming and Before You Were Mine The poem "Homecoming" is about the childhood of the poet's wife (Simon Armitage) and their current relationship. The poem begins with the poet talking about his wife in kindergarten. The poet shows us that it is a child by describing a character wearing "a canary yellow cotton jacket" because it signifies childhood. The little girl gets her jacket "peeled" and "blackened" in the cloakroom and her mother does "the real punch." In the next paragraph the character "sneaks" out of the house and plans to run away, but ends up retracing his "walk to the garden gate" and returning home. The last paragraph talks about the poet's relationship with his wife. Carol Ann Duffy's "BeforeYou Were Mine" talks about her guilt at being born believing she ruined her mother's life. The poet describes his mother as a "relic of red high-heeled shoes." Both the poems “Homecoming” and “Before You Were Mine” explore themes of relationships. In "Homecoming" Simon Armitage focuses on relationships by describing the events of his wife's childhood showing her conflict with her parents at different ages and stages of her life. When Armitage's wife was in nursery she comes into conflict with her parents after rubbing and blackening her coat and her mother reacts to this by making "the right fist" and pointing the finger. Temperament, temperament'. In "Before You Were Mine" Carol Ann Duffy's relationship with her mother is based on guilt. In the poem Carol Ann Duffy feels guilty for destroying her mother's life by being born. The poet feels as if… halfway through the paper… Duffy begins the second paragraph grammatically incorrectly by saying “I'm not here yet.” Duffy says this on purpose so the reader can picture it in their head. Duffy says “the thousand-eyed ballroom, the sizzling film.” Duffy uses it because it alludes to someone famous. Duffy still holds her mother in high regard, saying, "I knew you would dance like that." Duffy says this to imply that her dancing was perfect as if she were a princess. Duffy also becomes quite possessive in the poem saying "Before you were mine" as if her mother was an object. Duff also uses the alliteration "hands in high heels". Duffy uses alliteration because it is easy to remember. Duffy also uses "red high-heeled shoes, relics" to symbolize passion and youth. Duffy also employs onomatopoeia. Duff also uses similes, such as "clear perfume".’.