Salome – Carol Ann Duffy
I'd done it before
(and doubtless I'll do it again, sooner or later) woke up with a head on the pillow beside me -whose? what did it matter?
Good- looking, of course, dark hair, rather matted; the reddish beard several shades lighter; with very deep lines around the eyes, from pain, I'd guess, maybe laughter; and a beautiful crimson mouth that obviously knew how to flatter... which I kissed...
Colder than pewter.
Strange. What was his name? Peter?
Simon? Andrew? John? I knew I'd feel better for tea, dry toast, no butter, so rang for the maid.
And, indeed, her innocent clatter of cups and plates, her clearing of clutter, her regional patter, were just what needed hungover and wrecked as I was from a night on the batter.
Never again!
I needed to clean up my act, get fitter, cut out the booze and the fags and the sex.
Yes. And as for the latter, it was time to turf out the blighter, the beater or biter, who'd come like a lamb to the slaughter to Salome's bed.
In tile mirror, I saw my eyes glitter.
I flung back the sticky red sheets, and there, like I said -and ain't life a bitch was his head on a platter.

Who is Salome?
Salome is a woman in the New Testament.
According to the Bible, Salome danced for
Herod on his birthday. He was so impressed by her performance that he said she could have anything she wanted.
She was prompted by her mother to ask for the head of John the Baptist after he was executed. The head was presented to her on a plate.
In this poem, Salome is presented as a cold, murderous woman in modern society.
Duffy creates a modern persona for
Salome.

I'd done it before
(and doubtless I'll do it again, sooner or later) woke up with a head on the pillow beside me -whose? what did it matter?
She doesn’t know who the man is next to her and she doesn’t seem to care.
She can’t remember who he is.

Good- looking, of course , dark hair, rather matted ; the reddish beard several shades lighter; with very deep lines around the eyes, from pain, I'd guess, maybe laughter; and a beautiful crimson mouth that obviously knew how to flatter... which I kissed...
Colder than pewter .
Pewter = a type of metal.
This line makes the reader suspect the man is dead.

Strange. What was his name? Peter?
Simon? Andrew? John?
I knew I'd feel better for tea, dry toast, no butter, so rang for the maid.
And, indeed, her innocent clatter of cups and plates, her clearing of clutter, her regional patter,
The maid suggests that Salome is wealthy. The maid is making a lot of noise. This is emphasised by the use of onomatopoeia.

were just what needed hungover and wrecked as I was from a night on the batter .
Never again!
I needed to clean up my act, get fitter, cut out the booze and the fags and the sex .
This word has a double meaning – it could mean she’s been drinking. Or, it could have a more literal, violent meaning.
She is hungover from the night before. She says she will clean up her act and change her unhealthy lifestyle. Do you believe her? Remember at the start of the poem she said she’d “do it again”. She uses informal language.

Yes. And as for the latter, it was time to turf out the b lighter, the b eater or b iter, who'd come like a lamb to the slaughter to Salome's bed.
Alliteration – the ‘b’ sound is quite harsh. These words suggest that Salome assumes the man is violent.
“lamb to the slaughter” is a Christian image of innocence. This contrasts the previous line – now the man is the victim.

This could show her evil side. It could also show that she is proud of what she’s done – she enjoyed what she did.
In tile mirror, I saw my eyes glitter.
I flung back the sticky red sheets, and there, like I said -and ain't life a bitch was his head on a platter.

Casual almost indifferent voice.
Sex is casual.
Initially there doesn’t seem anything amiss. Many people wake up in bed with a stranger in the modern world. However, knowledge of the original
I'd done it before
(and doubtless I'll do it again,
Salome makes the words profoundly shocking.
Serial killer sooner or later) woke up with a head on the pillow beside me -whose? what did it matter?
Good- looking, of course, dark hair, rather matted; the reddish beard several shades lighter;
Free verse. The narrator is just awakening.
Red theme
Lots of detail.
An arrogant voice. Sounds almost boastful. They only have good looking partners.
“The Godfather”

with very deep lines around the eyes, from pain, I'd guess, maybe laughter; and a beautiful crimson mouth that obviously knew how to flatter...
The mouth is cold because he is which I kissed…
Colder than pewter. dead. Kissing the decapitated head is depraved and shocking.
Strange. What was his name? Peter?
Red theme
Can’t remember his name! The murder is told in a very matter of fact way. Her lack of interest in the individual suggests she might be a psychopath

She is now more awake so the tempo picks up.
Simon? Andrew? John? I knew I'd feel better for tea, dry toast, no butter,
Names of the disciples. Link so rang for the maid.
And, indeed, her innocent clatter of cups and plates, her clearing of clutter, to the biblical roots of the poem.
A very simple breakfast sits in juxtaposition to the scale of her depravity.
her regional patter, were just what needed hungover and wrecked as I was from a night on the batter.
Hard “c” sounds
Colloquial language. This makes it seem chatty and friendly which is at odds with the violence and the madness.

Doesn’t include murder in her list of things to cut back on.
Casual about these things.
Never again!
I needed to clean up my act,
But also casual about killing get fitter, cut out the booze and the fags and the sex.
Yes. And as for the latter, it was time to turf out the blighter, the beater or biter, who'd come like a lamb to the slaughter to Salome's bed.
Hates the male sex. Misandry.
Simile
Use of the 3 rd person. She is a force to be reckoned with.

Red theme
Is she referring to herself? Or is it ironic sympathy for her victim?
Poem culminates in the decapitation. Echoes the original biblical story.