I read somewhere at the time that this was inspired by a polar bear at Bristol zoo. Anyone who grew up in south Wales in the 70s and early 80s would have visited the zoo at some point (I went on a school trip when I was about six) and seen this poor mad polar bear pacing endlessly up and down his small enclosure. The visitors would be looking down into what was basically a concrete pit, and I've always assumed the 'small black flowers' were the people coming and going above. Polar bears don't have great eyesight.
I read somewhere at the time that this was inspired by a polar bear at Bristol zoo. Anyone who grew up in south Wales in the 70s and early 80s would have visited the zoo at some point (I went on a school trip when I was about six) and seen this poor mad polar bear pacing endlessly up and down his small enclosure. The visitors would be looking down into what was basically a concrete pit, and I've always assumed the 'small black flowers' were the people coming and going above. Polar bears don't have great eyesight.