The poem is a plea from a homeless speaker directly addressing a passerby. Through references to performing for money, imprisonment, and biblical figures, the speaker conveys their growing desperation in an attempt to evoke sympathy. Imagery of sleeping in doorways, begging on knees, and performing for coins illustrates the suffering of homelessness. The direct address and use of the second person creates immediacy in the speaker's appeal for help from the reader.

1. Poetry Across Time: Character and voice
Give
Of all the public places, dear,
to make a scene, I've chosen here.
Of all the doorways in the world
to choose to sleep, I’ve chosen yours.
I'm on the street, under the stars.
For coppers I can dance or sing.
For silver-swallow swords, eat fire.
For gold-escape from locks and chains.
It's not as if I'm holding out
for frankincense or myrrh, just change.
You give me tea. That's big of you.
I'm on my knees. I beg of you.
Dear - ironic, (‘old dear’);
speaking directly to
passer-by or shop owner
Scene – play on words:
scene is a view but also
unpleasant spectacle
Doorways in the
world – image of
universal suffering
Dear and here – force of
rhyming couplet reduced by
break; conveys disruption
World, yours and stars –
enjambed lines convey
sense of a conversation
Yours –second person
creates immediacy; it is
a direct appeal
Under the stars –
simultaneously
conveys freedom
and isolation
For, For, For – increasing
monetary value illustrates
growing desperation
locks and chains – a
metaphor for imprisonment
of homelessness
Whole stanza – short
stanza brings a sense of
realism: a stark contrast
Frankincense or myrrh –
allusion to the Biblical three
kings and history of charity
That’s big of you – a
mocking tone designed to
challenge reader’s views
I’m on my knees – image
of suffering (possibly
evocation of Christ)
‘big’ and ‘beg’ –
repeated echo of the
word to highlight
simple plea for
kindness
Two full stops –
breaks in each line
slow the poem and
draw out sympathy
for the speaker
Key
Language: connotation, imagery, metaphor, simile
Structure and form: stanzas, type, patterns, contrast, juxtaposition
Poetic methods: alliteration, caesura, assonance, rhythm, rhyme
Character and voice: who is speaking and to whom? Tone of voice
Links: comparisons to other speakers, methods and themes
Interpretations of the poem:
 A simple plea from a homeless man in need of help
 An attempt to evoke sympathy in the reader for all those people around the world
without a home or love
 A portrayal of the imprisoning nature of homelessness
 A critique of the way that people ignore instances of suffering on their own doorstep