Mean Time

Mean Time

By Carol Ann Duffy

The clocks slid back an hour
and stole light from my life
as I walked through the wrong part of town,
mourning our love.

And, of course, unmendable rain
fell to the bleak streets
where I felt my heart gnaw
at all our mistakes.

If the darkening sky could lift
more than one hour from this day
there are words I would never have said
nor have heard you say.

But we will be dead, as we know,
beyond all light.
These are the shortened days
and the endless nights.

Summary of Mean Time

• Popularity of “Mean Time”: “Mean Time” by Carol Ann Duffy, a British playwright and poet, is a unique poetic output. She also teaches poetry in a university. The poet first appeared in 1993 and was published in the same year in the collection of the same title, Mean Time. The unique feature of the poem lies in its subject matter that no ordinary poets normally address in such a way.
• “Mean Time” As a Representative of Time and Love: The poet beautifully opens the poem with the modern image of the moving time back to save an hour saying that when he sees this saving time, he mourns his love. When he comes out in the streets, the poet states, he feels that the streets are bleak and that he feels his mistakes which are gnawing at his heart. He, then, argues that if the dark sky could remove one hour from our lives, they would not have exchanged certain words which could be pleasant or unpleasant. However, instead of that, the poet thinks, that they would be dead. It is because of this hour that has shortened their days and the nights have prolonged.
• Major Themes in “Mean Time”: Time saving action, impacts of unnatural acts, and theme of love are the major themes of this poem. The poet sheds light on the time-saving action that although it takes away one hour, he is able to mourn his love or that he is mourning his love due to his being at the wrong place. The second thing is that there are unnatural acts which means that though the people want to save an hour, they forget the fast-approaching darkness. Yet in the midst of this situation, the love of the poet seems to have a different situation as they have said words to each other that they should not or would have never said. This love ends on the positive point that the nights are endless.

Analysis of Literary Devices Used In “Mean Time”

literary devices bring variety into simple poetic pieces. Their appropriate use helped the writers to convey their thoughts impressively. Carol Ann Duffy has also used some literary devices in this poem whose analysis is as follows.

1. Assonance: Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line such as the sound of /e/ in “fell to the bleak streets” the sound of /o/ in “more than one hour from this day” and the sound of /a/ in “there are words I would never have said.”
2. Alliteration: The poem shows the use of alliteration in the shape of initial consonant sounds of the neighboring words such as the sound of /h/ in “have heard.”
3. Consonance: Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line such as the sound of /r/ and /t/ in “as I walked through the wrong part of town” and the sound of /r/ and /s/ in “there are words I would never have said.”
4. Enjambment: It is defined as a thought in verse that does not come to an end at a line break; rather, it rolls over to the next line. For example;

But we will be dead, as we know,
beyond all light.
These are the shortened days
and the endless nights.

5. Imagery: Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. Carol Ann Duffy has used imagery in this poem such as “where I left my heart gnaw”, “if the darkening sky could lift” and “These are the shortened days.”
6. Personification: The poem shows the use of personification sky and heart as if they have life and emotions of their own.
7. Symbolism: Symbolism is using symbols to signify ideas and qualities, giving them symbolic meanings that are different from literal meanings. The poem shows the use of symbols time and day that show the poet’s meanings.

Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in “Mean Time”

Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry. Here is the analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem.

1. Diction and Tone: The poem shows the use of standard poetic diction with a serious tone.
2. Rhyme Scheme: The poem shows the use of the rhyming pattern of ABCD but the second shows the pattern of ABAB, the third shows the pattern of ABCB and the last one shows the same.
3. Stanza: A stanza is a poetic form of some lines. This poem has four stanzas with each having

Quotes to be Used

These lines from “Mean Time” are appropriate to quote the importance of love.

But we will be dead, as we know,
beyond all light.
These are the shortened days
and the endless nights.