How has the poet presented the effects of conflict in ‘The Right Word’ through choices of language and structure?

The poem is about a woman inside her house. Her thoughts manage to get the better of her. The poem comes about on what happened on the 911 bombings. The poet uses an provocative and emotive opening. The woman is in a situation where she feels that she doesn’t have control. The poet uses a range of nouns and verbs to describe activists and their behaviour each with emotional connotation. I think the poet writes this poem to say that on the aftermath of 911, most Asians(innocent people) have been victimised because of their race(appearance) is similar to those of terrorists that took part in the 911 bombings. I think the poet uses the metaphor of a door to talk about many threats that exist in society today. The poet uses a range of verbs and nouns to describe the behaviour of the activists.

The first 4 stanzas show different interpretations of who might be ‘outside the door’ in the ‘shadows’. The poet uses short stanzas which the reader comes to quick judgements. Also, the poet uses a noun ‘shadow’ which represents dark and gloom, sense of things hidden and also uncertainty. The repetition of the noun ‘shadows’ enhances distrust and establishes an mysterious tone. When the poet uses the phase ‘is a child who looks like mine’ suggest emotive imagery (innocence and vulnerability). When the poet uses the phase ‘one word for you’, it is directly addressed to the figure outside the door. The word ‘come in’, it represents an inviting, welcoming tone.  The poet uses the controversial noun terrorist to establish the tone of an emotive opening. The poet utilizes the same theme(idea) of someone being outside the door lurking in the shadows. When the poet uses an adverb ‘carefully’, it suggests gentleness while the symbolic act of the figure removing shoes show respect. The activist seems to be just a harmless child.