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READ THIS
Marie Philip was born and still lives in Cape Town where she is married to the renowned
publisher, David Philip.
Her poem is about a woman on her wedding day. The bride and everyone around her are tense
after all the weeks of wedding preparations. While she is walking towards the car which will
take her to the church, however, a muddy dog jumps up against her white wedding dress. In
an unexpected turn of events, this incident provokes humour and helps to relieve the tension
felt by the bride and her father.
GLOSSARY
"meticulously": very carefully planned, right down to the last detail;
"deluge": heavy fall of rain;
"festooned": hung with flowers;
"serenity": a feeling of calm, peace and tranquility;
"retinue": the important attendants (e.g. bridesmaids) and people accompanying her
(e.g. mother, granny);
"remorse": to experience guilt; to feel sorry for something you have done or said;
"sullied": to be ruined or spoiled.
Have you looked at the questions
in the right column?
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TEST YOURSELF!
Read the left column and then answer
the following questions:
"One has been
everybody else's property
for weeks."
- What does the poet mean by this? (3)
[Need help?]
When you are about to get married, family members all become involved. They all give advice
and the bride feels as if she has lost her individuality. Everyone else has had a say in the type
of wedding and reception she will have — and probably the style of dress she will wear,
as well as the food the guests will eat. She and her wedding day belong to everyone. It is not
simply her day.
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How do we know that the family has "meticulously planned" every detail? (3)
[Need help?]
The family has even thought of providing the traffic cop with tea! This is presumably a small
town and the traffic cop will be responsible for ensuring the wedding car gets to the church
without a problem. To ensure he does not feel left out and to reward him for his efforts, he is
given refreshment.
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"A deluge of Autumn rain gives my father the opportunity
of reminding no one
that he refused to have a garden reception."
- Why is father "reminding no one" of his refusal to have a garden
reception? (3)
[Need help?]
No one is listening to him. They are not interested in what he has to say. There has been a
downpour and this gives him the opportunity to tell everyone how right he was in not agreeing
to a garden reception which would have been ruined by the rain.
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" Multiple anxieties are locked away
in his tower of strength."
- Identify and explain the figure of speech. (3)
[Need help?]
"tower of strength" is a metaphor.
Father is compared with a tall, strong tower. He appears strong and in control.
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- What do these words reveal about her father's state of mind? (3)
[Need help?]
Father is only pretending to be in control. He is actually nervous and concerned about many
things, but feels he has to be the strong one on whom his daughter and those around him can
rely. He keeps his concerns securely hidden ("locked away") so no one can see how
anxious he is.
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"I too have been charming all day."
- What does this line reveal about the bride's state of mind? (3)
[Need help?]
The bride is concentrating on being nice to everyone. She is trying to live up to the image of
a serene bride, but in reality she is also anxious and nervous. In fact, she does not feel
charming because she is tense after all the preparations and the people giving advice.
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"A muddy Scotch terrier
hurtles himself on this dressed-up neighbour."
- Who is "this dressed-up neighbour"? (2)
[Need help?]
The "neighbour" is the bride! She is the neighbour to the dog and is all dressed up in
her white wedding dress.
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How does the bride feel after swearing at the dog and why does she feel this way? (3)
[Need help?]
She feels guilty because a bride is supposed to be calm and innocent and charming. A bride
is certainly not supposed to swear! She feels she has spoilt the innocent and charming image
that she has tried so hard to show all day. She has tried to be the perfect picture of a bride, but
now she has spoilt that image.
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How and where does the father "give" her "away"? (3)
[Need help?]
The father gives the bride to the bridegroom in the church once he has walked her down the
aisle. It symbolizes that she is moving from her father's house to that of her husband. She will
now "belong" to her husband.
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This document is copyrighted. No part of it may be reproduced in any form
whatever without explicit permission in writing from the author.
The sole exception is for educational institutions which may wish to reproduce
it as a handout for their students.
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