2014 Literature in English GCE O Level November 2008 - Unseen Poetry

Read this poem carefully, and then answer the questions that follow it.

the coffee house, cockpit hotel



not a daily occurrence:
a bride waiting, 7:30pm, at a coffee house.
you, shifting eyes, forkfuls into mouth,
stop. stop & watch the bride,
2 bridesmaids & an elderly chaperon
at the little round table
having a respite before the dinner.
her eyes, downcast, become modest behaviour.




immediately one floor down
dragon room is taken for the reception.
relatives line up at the entrance,
the men clutching proffered tins of rothmans.




twice, a hand gently steals out & pats
any suspected flaw of coiffure into perfection.
most of the time, looking at her gloves,
her eyes are downcast, cast downwards
one floor immediately below.




at the end of an elastic hour
will she rise, raise her eyes,
descend one floor, ascend the low platform
elevating the tabled 10 courses,
smile gently at the groom, post-sharksfin
& pre-crispy chicken & mark out clearly
her domain, right here & right up there?


(by Arthur Yap)

Question 1: What are your feelings about the bride as you read the poem?
 
Question 2: What do you find striking about the way the poet uses words and images to describe the situation?



Remember to refer closely to the poem in your answer.