Mid Term Break - Seamus Heaney.

"Wearing a poppy bruise on his left temple"

There is plenty to say about this quote.

i) the fact that the word 'wearing' suggests something Heaney thinks is temporary and not part of his brother.

ii) 'poppy' is linked with rememberance, reverance, celebration and a sense of loss, grief and suffering.

iii) the specific 'on his left temple' shows how closely Heaney is scrutinising the body - a childlike, inquisitive mind.