Unseen Poem [20 Marks]
‘Trio’
By Edwin Morgan
ü 20 mins timed.
ü Use quotations.
ü Pick out language
techniques
ü Use your critical
thinking “I” voice.
ü 1 A4 page in total.
Coming up Buchanan Street, quickly, on a sharp winter evening
a young man and two girls, under the Christmas lights –
The young man carries a new guitar in his arms,
the girl on the inside carries a very young baby,
and the girl on the outside carries a chihuahua.
And the three of them are laughing, their breath rises
in a cloud of happiness, and as they pass
the boy says, ‘Wait till he sees this but!’
The chihuahua has a tiny Royal Stewart tartan coat like a teapot-
holder,
the baby in its white shawl is all bright eyes and mouth like favours
in a fresh sweet cake,
the guitar swells out under its milky plastic cover, tied at the neck
with silver tinsel tape and a brisk sprig of mistletoe.
*Orphean sprig! Melting baby! Warm chihuahua!
The vale of tears is powerless before you.
Whether Christ is born, or is not born, you
put paid to fate, it abdicates
under the Christmas lights.
Monsters of the year
go blank, are scattered back,
can’t bear this march of three.
– And the three have passed, vanished in the crowd
(yet not vanished, for in their arms they wind
the life of men and beasts, and music,
laughter ringing them round like a guard)
at the end of this winter’s day.
*According to Greek
Mythology, Orpheus had
the power to bring objects
to life through his music.
This is a Scottish Christmas poem
written by Scottish poet Edwin Morgan.
It is a narrative poem that deals with a
chance encounter one winter evening in
Glasgow. The poet happened to notice a
passing group, or two girls and a boy,
whose very happiness seemed to radiate
from them in a tangible form. It is this
momentary incident which prompts
Morgan to search for some deeper
meaning behind the trio's joy, and
consider humanity's ability to draw
happiness from apparently mundane
source. Also, consider the Christian
analogy (use of 3) (hint: *nativity).
Word of the Week:
Instamatic: a brief moment captured in time as
it unfolds.
1. (a) What do you think the poet is saying about the power of youth and hope at
Christmas? Support your answer with reference to the poem. (10) [2 paras]
(b) Identify two images from the poem that make an impact on you and give reasons
for your choice. (10) [2 paras]
OR
2. Discuss the appeal of this poem with reference to its theme, tone and the poet’s use of
language and imagery. Refer closely to the text in support of your answer. (20) [4
paras]
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