Suggests long, ordinary life
Singh Song
Childish language suggests that his father The speaker rebels against his father’s rules
still has control over the speaker’s life - takes control of his own life
I run just one ov my daddy's shops The speaker is newly married. Non-standard
from 9 o'clock to 9 o'clock use of the word suggests the speaker is still
and he vunt me not to hav a break getting used to the English language
but ven nobody in, I do di lock –
Simile - the unusual description of love-making creates humour
Repetition - cos up di stairs is my newly bride
emphasises vee share in chapatti A comical image of rebellion - the speaker disregards the rules of
the new vee share in di chutney the shop as he is distracted by love and his new wife
couple’s unity after vee hav made luv
and equality like vee rowing through Putney – It sounds like a chorus of voices, emphasises by
the phonetic spellings
Ven I return vid my pinnie untied The speaker is controlled and dominated by his father
di shoppers always point and cry:
Hey Singh, ver yoo bin? Exaggeration - creates humour and highlights the contrast
Yor lemons are limes between the unreliable speaker and his careful father
yor bananas are plantain,
dis dirty little floor need a little bit of mop This reflects presents financial pressure on the speaker
in di worst Indian shop
on di whole Indian road - Imitates her heels tapping the ceiling - the speaker’s new bride is
The speaker’s new wife has some glamorous, linked to a new generation that is embracing the
control as she manages her own control Western culture.
Above my head high heel tap di ground
Modern approach to relationships contrasts with idea of
as my vife on di web is playing wid di mouse
arranged marriage, a stereotypical part of Indian culture
ven she netting two cat on her Sikh lover site
Lively languageshe book dem for di meat at di cheese ov her price –
- suggests that Metaphor - represents that the wife is in power like a
the speaker ‘cat’ over a ‘mouse
finds his wife’smy bride Repetition - sense of pride and possession - suggests that the speaker is proud
swearing funny she effing at my mum of his new ‘bride’ and can’t stop thinking about her. The fact that he says
Shows that thein all di colours of Punjabi ‘bride’ instead of ‘wife’ hints that the marriage is still new and exciting
bride has no den stumble like a drunk
fear making fun at my daddy Shows that they both have a sense of humour - the speaker doesn’t
mind his wife poking fun at his parents as well as insulting them
Sense of
power and my bride Metaphor/Juxtaposition - the wife is described as both dangerous and cute -
sense of tiny eyes ov a gun she is a combination of lots of different things
intimacy and and di tummy ov a teddy
closeness
my bride
Not typical for a new Indian bride
she hav a red crew cut
and she wear a Tartan sari The wife’s clothes are a mixture of British
a donkey jacket and some pumps and Indian culture - she represents both
on di squeak ov di girls dat are pinching my sweeties –
, Verb - suggests that the relationship is
affectionate and carefree
The speaker desires to be with his wife and neglects the shop -
Ven I return from di tickle ov my bride
he is struggling to work and to be with his wife
di shoppers always point and cry:
Hey Singh, ver yoo bin?
Di milk is out ov date
and di bread is alvays stale, Suggests that the speaker is a terrible shopkeeper and
di tings yoo hav on offer yoo hav never got in stock is not keeping his father’s honour
in di worst Indian shop
on di whole Indian road – Sense of freedom. Sudden moment of calm shows that the couple are
Fairytale quality - the speaker feels like a
alone - this contrasts with all the voices of the chorus. It is ironic that the
prince now that he is with his wife
Late in di midnight hour speaker wants the customers in bed because his shop would fail without
ven yoo shoppers are wrap up quiet them - this emphasises how he is more concerned to be with new wife
ven di precinct is concrete-cool
The speaker seems to be addressing the reader and implicating them as a
vee cum down whispering stairs
problem - this emphasises how he doesn’t care about anyone else, he just
and sit on my silver stool,
wants to be with his new bride
from behind di chocolate bars
vee stare past di half-price window signs Shop - ordinary. The speaker is mixing ordinary with the fantasy
at di beaches ov di UK in di brightey moon – suggesting that the ordinary is the fantasy
Makes up English words - shows that the two
cultures are merging together Repetition - makes the conversation sound rhythmic and song
from di stool each night she say, like. It highlights the closeness and love between them
How much do yoo charge for dat moon baby?
from di stool each night I say, It is a routine - they are above their house and their
Is half di cost ov yoo baby, shop - their love is above everything
from di stool each night she say,
Sense of romance and relaxation - suggests that the
How much does dat come to baby? speaker and his new wife are comfortable with each other
from di stool each night I say,
Is priceless baby –
Formal language - it is a routine for the speaker. He doesn’t care
Suggests that their love is more about the shop as his priority is to be with his new wife
important than money
The poem is left hanging after the final phrase
- the couple is looking to the future
Daljit Nagra
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