What does this poem mean?

About His Person



Five pounds fifty in change, exactly,

a library card on its date of expiry.



A postcard stamped,

unwritten, but franked,



a pocket size diary slashed with a pencil

from March twenty-fourth to the first of April.



A brace of keys for a mortise lock,

an analogue watch, self winding, stopped.



A final demand

in his own hand,



a rolled up note of explanation

planted there like a spray carnation



but beheaded, in his fist.

A shopping list.



A givaway photgraph stashed in his wallet,

a kepsake banked in the heart of a locket.



no gold or silver,

but crowning one finger



a ring of white unweathered skin.

That was everything.



Simon Armitage

PS

a) is it about a guy comited suicide but why? coz his wife left him or she died and he couldnt carry on life?

b) if you were to think of a song to go with this poem what would it be and

c) what images come to mind when u read this poem? what kind of scene does it ocnjure in your mind? thanks.

What does this poem mean?
The person is British. Wanted to write, but couldn't bring himself to do it. Was keeping a record of his last days, to the final week. A suicide note crumbled up in his hand. A torn shopping list he never filled. A loving photo obtained at a booth, or carnival. A lock of hair. At one time wore a wedding ring, now the mark is just visable. (backing up a little), House keys (may have been found outside), the watch had stopped, probably dead for at least 24 hours. Most likely his wife left him. That's why he no longer wore the ring, but may have just recently took it off, because of the mark. He kept the momentos, because he still loved her. He may also have died of a broken heart. It only hurts when I'm breathing (Shania Twain ). Small Apt. very little light, cloudy, or misting.
Reply:You're very welcome, and I enjoyed helping you. Report It
Reply:Well, this is clearly your homework but I'll help out if I can.



I think the wife has left him, widowers tend to keep their wedding rings on, plus he obviously has some financial problems (final demand is mentioned).



You need to think about songs that are about suicidal, I'd look into Suede, The Smiths, Placebo - all the cheery ones.



For me it conjures a sad old man, alone and in pain who ends it all, probably by hanging himself.
Reply:Yes, it sounds like a depressed man maybe his wife cheated or he cheated or he is recently divorced because he is not wearing the ring. If he cheated Creep-Radiohead if she died November Rain- Guns and Roses. I think of someone sitting in an empty room looking out a window at rain.
Reply:If you had listened in class...the teacher would have said.

That is in the GCSE anthology. Yes, he's dead, how is not entirely clear. Presuming suicide...it then goes on to give the possibility of a marriage ended in some way, and he no longer wears his ring. BUT from experience..if you were annoyed enough to remove your ring..you probably wouldn't commit suicide...as angry people tend not to hurt themselves but others.

Songs? Diary of Horace Wimp by Electric light orchestra, or She's leaving by the Beatles

Picture...well he's in the morgue/or funeral parlour and his "effects" are being catalogued.
Reply:It's a lovely list poem.



We get to know about this man's chracter by seeing what he carried on his person. It looks like he's missing his wedding ring, so it was either stolen or his wife left him/divorced him.



I don't really know what kind of song would go with it. I think it is its own song.



It's surprisingly peaceful and slow, elegant and exact, touching and lonely. That's why I think it's lovely.