Page 2: Metaphorical Development
This section delves deeper into the metaphorical significance of measurement and space imagery, examining how these elements reflect the evolving parent-child relationship.
Definition: The "single span" represents the physical distance between outstretched hands, symbolizing the limited distance one can manage alone.
Highlight: The space metaphor develops throughout the poem, progressing from earthbound measurements to cosmic exploration, reflecting the speaker's journey toward independence.
Quote: "I space-walk through the empty bedrooms, climb / the ladder to the loft, to breaking point" illustrates the transition from domestic to cosmic imagery.
The analysis examines how the poem's structure mirrors its themes, with enjambment and varied rhyme schemes reflecting the gradual separation between mother and child.





