One of the songs I always discuss when teaching poetry. The fact its name and style makes reference to country music without actually being a country song is fantastic, but the language and imagery is beautiful. The opening, a perfect example of personification. But my favourite part is the imagery she creates by combining two very different cliches: I'm at the end of my rope means simply you've had enough; swinging back and forth about you, means she's in two minds about her relationship with him. But put them together and you have a suicidal desire image that wasn't there in either one of them. Beautiful in its simplicity.
One of the songs I always discuss when teaching poetry. The fact its name and style makes reference to country music without actually being a country song is fantastic, but the language and imagery is beautiful. The opening, a perfect example of personification. But my favourite part is the imagery she creates by combining two very different cliches: I'm at the end of my rope means simply you've had enough; swinging back and forth about you, means she's in two minds about her relationship with him. But put them together and you have a suicidal desire image that wasn't there in either one of them. Beautiful in its simplicity.