Roller Skaters
by Grace Nichols
Learning Objectives
As we study this poem you will learn:
• the story of the poem
• More about the terms,
Free Verse: Assonance: Metaphor:
Oxymoron: Enjambement: Alliteration:
Imagery: Pace/Tempo
• how to read out one stanza to the class in a
group
• You will also complete some mini tasks and
a test on the poem.
Roller Skaters
Flying by
on the winged-wheels
of their heels
Defying law
death and gravity
as they do a wheely
Two teenage earthbirds
zig-zagging
down the street
Landing back
in the smooth swoop
of youth
Rising
unfeathered –
in sudden air leap
And faces gaping
gawking, impressed
and unimpressed
Only Mother watches – heartbeat in her mouth
Roller Skaters - Test
1: What is the ‘Story Of The Poem?’
2: There are two metaphors in Stanza 1 below.
Identify one of the and explain what it means:
Flying by
on the winged-wheels
of their heels
3: Write down one example of an Oxymoron
from the poem.
4: Write down one example of Assonance from
the poem.
The Story Of The Poem
Two teenagers, boys or girls or both, are rollerskating and doing tricks in a public street. Some
of the people watching are impressed by their
stunts, but others are not impressed. Their mother
is also watching, terrified that they will hurt
themselves.
The Stucture Of The Poem
•The poem is composed of six three line stanzas
with a final single line stanza.
MINI TASK 1:
Count the line length for each stanza in the
poem.
What do you notice?
The Stucture Of The Poem
•The poem is composed of six three line stanzas
with a final single line stanza.
•The line length is very short 2-6 syllable long. The
exception is the final line/stanza which is 11
syllables long .
•However each stanza is between 11-13 syllables
long which does give the poem a unity and
even feel.
The Key Feature Of The Poem
….is Imagery. The poem essentially describes a
single stunt performed by two roller–skaters and
the effect the stunt has on their ‘audience’ and
their mother.
MINI TASK 2:
List what you think are the main images in the
poem.
The Key Feature Of The Poem
….is Imagery. The poem essentially describes a
single stunt performed by the roller–skaters and
the effect the stunt has on their ‘audience’ and
their mother.
Ex. the way the skaters are described as
•flying by
•Zig-zagging
•Leaping into the air and doing a ‘wheely’
•Landing safely
and
•The faces of those watching, especially
their mother.
Enjambment
Flying by 
on the winged-wheels 
of their heels
Defying law
death and gravity
as they do a wheely
Two teenage earthbirds
zig-zagging
down the street
Landing back
in the smooth swoop
of youth
Rising
unfeathered –
in sudden air leap
And faces gaping
gawking, impressed
and unimpressed
Only Mother watches – heartbeat in her mouth
MINI TASK3:
On your copy, put the enjambment in for the
rest of the poem.
Enjambment
Flying by 
on the winged-wheels 
of their heels
Defying law 
death and gravity
as they do a wheely
Two teenage earthbirds
zig-zagging 
down the street
Landing back
in the smooth swoop 
of youth
Rising 
unfeathered –
in sudden air leap
And faces gaping 
gawking, impressed 
and unimpressed
Only Mother watches – heartbeat in her mouth
Other Fearues
•Assonance: is the repetition of vowel sounds in
words that are close to each other
Ex L14, smooth swoop.
•Oxymoron: two words used together which have,
or seem to have, opposite meanings.
Ex L4 earthbirds.
•Alliteration: Similar sounding beginnings to words
that are close to each other.
Ex L2 ~ winged-wheels & L14 ~ smooth swoop.
Other Fearues
Pace: The pace of the poem is fairly fast,
reflecting the speed at which the skaters
‘fly’ past. The fast pace is helped by the
occasional use of assonance and
rhyme/chime:
Ex. ‘wheels’ & ‘heels’
‘street’ & ‘leap’
‘gravity’ & ‘wheely’
‘smooth swoop’ & ‘youth’
Rhythm: All of this gives the poem a fairly strong
rhythm and a tone of excitement/danger.
Other Fearues
Metaphor:
If an object/person is not being described
literally, then the chances are they are being
described metaphorically..
In the poem the skaters are described as ‘Flying
by’ and as having ‘Winged wheels'. Both of these
descriptions are metaphors as the skaters are not
‘flying’ nor do they have ‘wings’ on their heels.
‘Earthbirds’, ‘unfeathered’ and ‘heartbeat’ are
examples of other metaphors used in the poem.
Other Fearues
Metaphor:
The whole poem can be viewed as
one extended metaphor that explores the
rebellious nature of youth and the risks young
people with take when growing up as they
seek thrills and excitement.
It also makes reference to the most difficult
thing a parent has to do – learn to let go and
trust their children.
Task
Write about a time, real or imagined, that you
took part in a ‘dangerous’ or exciting activity
that your parents would not, or did not approve
of.
What did you feel when you took part in this
activity and how did your parents react when
they found out?
What did you think/feel
about their reaction?