By Carol Ann Duffy

Content

“Quickdraw” is an old western term for a conflict between 2 people. So from the title we can see the old western influence on the poem. In the opening stanza we can see a simile being used "the mobile and the land-line phones like guns“ this is showing a modern turn on guns.

Language

Quickdraw plays on imagery associated with western films, as the title suggests. "Gunslingers“ is a western term to describe people that fight with guns. The poems opening line shows that they are swapping mobile phones for guns.

In the third stanza we can see an other immediate response which signifies an other gunshot. The third stanza is mainly uses old western language. For instance "high noon" is a direct film reference to a 1952 western themed movie called high noon, also hard liquor is a western style reference as well. The "old last Chance saloon" symbolises the breaking point of their relationship.

Finally at the last stanza we see the poet has written "sliver bullets of your kiss" this shows that anger has been killed with a kiss. Moreover the "sliver bullets" is used to kill werewolf this emphasises the how valuable the kiss was and how the anger has been tamed.

Imagery

Quickdraw explores the way in which relationships can become a struggle for power, often leading to "shootouts" or arguments. It's an essentially humorous poem, even though it deals with an emotional struggle. The ending of the poem is ambiguous - is the speaker responding with loving text messages, or negative ones? What is her response?Quickdraw purposefully uses imagery from the historic western film genre to clash with modern references to mobile phones and text messages, drawing attention to the idea that relationships have long been this way. Whatever lovers choose as 'weapons', relationships remain the same.

Structure

Quickdraw has 4 stanzas of 4 lines each. 2 of which are joined by enjambment where one line carry's on to the next. There is no rhyme scheme or regular rhythm. The poem is largely written in free verse. The structure of the stanza has deeper meaning behind it. The second and third stanza is in a shape of a gun which relates to the theme of the wild west as well as the title. Also the uneven shape of those two stanza show the uncertainty of the relationship. However the last stanza of the poem has very normal rectangular shape which suggests the argument has flared off. This means the structure and form reflects the emotions of the couple in the poem.

Message/Meaning

The message of the poem is how much love can hurt. This poem compares the mobile phone and texts in a relationship to a gun fight in a western movie or film.

The narrator always seems to come off worst, and is left hurt and wounded. What finally finishes her off isn't cruelty, but a series of text message kisses which hit her like a “bullet”