What is the poem about?
The poem depicts a family’s frantic rush to get ready for school and work on a Monday morning.
It highlights the busyness and stress of Mondays, being the first working day of the week.
The poem portrays the struggles of preparing children, the impatience of the father, the forgetfulness of the mother, and the overall tension as the family races to leave on time.
THE MONDAY BREEZE
Blurring horns
Screaming voice
Running legs
Children settle in van
Mummy runs out and returns
Daddy yells
Women
They always forget their purse
I am late, Daddy yells
If you had helped me, we would have been gone
Stanza by Stanza Analysis
Blurring horns
Screaming Voice
The family owns a vehicle, most likely driven by the father.
He repeatedly blurrs the horn to call his wife and children, who have not yet entered the van.
When the horn proves ineffective, he raises his voice in frustration, urging them to hurry.
Running legs
Children settle in van.
The phrase “Running legs” conveys hurried movement, reflecting the family’s rush.
The children quickly scramble into the van after hearing their father’s yelling.
Mummy runs out and returns
Daddy yells
The mother rushes out but quickly returns to fetch her purse.
The father yells at her for delaying, showing both impatience and irritation.
This scene mirrors the common, last-minute chaos of a Monday morning.
Women
They always forget their purse
The father generalizes his frustration into a stereotype, claiming women always forget their purses.
This reveals his impatience and irritation but also hints at ingrained gender expectations.
I am late, Daddy yells / If you had helped me, we would have been gone
The father angrily insists he is late for work.
The mother defends herself, pointing out that if he had helped with responsibilities, they would have already left.
This exchange highlights conflict and blame within the family.
Structure of the Poem
The poem is composed of five stanzas, each a couplet (two lines), making up ten lines in total.
It is written in free verse with no fixed rhyme scheme. The diction is simple, direct, and easy to understand.
Literary Devices
Metaphor
Monday Breeze (compares the chaotic rush to a breeze sweeping through).
Synecdoche
Running legs (legs represent the whole children running).
Repetition
Daddy yells (emphasizes frustration)
Alliteration
If you had helped / we would have been gone.
Hyperbole
Women /They always forget their purse (an exaggerated generalization).
Enjambment:
Several lines run into the next without punctuation, e.g. “Running legs / Children settle in van.”etc
Themes in the Poem
1. Chaos of family routines – The morning rush shows the stress of balancing time, responsibility, and order.
2. Gender roles and stereotypes
The father’s complaint reflects traditional stereotypes and frustrations between husband and wife.
3. Family conflict and blame
The parents argue, revealing tension and lack of cooperation.
Mood: Tense, stressful, and chaotic.
Tone: Frustrated and urgent.
Questions and Answers
1. Identify line 4 of the poem.
Ans: Children settle in van.
2. How many stanzas make up the poem?
Ans: 5 stanzas.
3. The poem contains two lines in each stanza. Such poems are categorized as
Ans: Couplets
4. Quote the third stanza.
Ans: Mummy runs out and returns
Daddy yells
5. “Running legs” is an example of
Ans: Synecdoche
6. What is the theme of the poem?
Ans: The chaos and tension of a family morning routine.
7. Determine the rhyming scheme of the poem.
Ans: Free verse – no rhyme scheme
8. Who are the main characters in the poem?
Ans: The father, mother, and children
9. What event is taking place?
Ans: The Monday morning rush as the family prepares to leave home.
10. Why is the father angry?
Because the mother’s delay (forgetting her purse) makes him late for work.
11. What is the mother’s response?
She reminds him that if he had helped, they would not be late.
12. Which device is in “Running legs”?Ans: Synecdoche (legs stand for the whole children).
13. There is an enjambment in the poem.
A. True
B. False
14. What is the central theme of the poem?
The chaos of family life on busy Monday mornings.
15. How is conflict shown in the poem?
Through dialogue, the father yells in anger, while the mother defends herself, highlighting tension and blame.
16. Why do you think Monday was specifically used?
Ans: Monday symbolizes the start of the week, often stressful, rushed, and full of pressure.
17. What mood does the poem create?Ans: Tension, chaos, and urgency.
18. What lesson can be learned from the poem?
Ans: Planning and preparation prevents lateness and reduces stress.
19. If you were to give the poem another title, what would it be?
Ans: Possible alternatives: “The Morning Rush,” “Family Tensions,” or “Late Again.”
Analysis by George Antwi
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