The Shark's Mouth

The image of the shark’s mouth described in the second line of the poem symbolizes the inherent dangers that people living in war-stricken countries must face every day. Shire chooses the shark for her metaphor because of its connotations with violence and predation. Just as one would feel at risk in the mouth of a shark, so do refugees feel at risk living in their home countries when they have become so politically and socially unstable that their lives are threatened on a daily basis. Even if they have not been personally harmed yet, they see no sense in taking the risk of remaining in the shark’s mouth any longer than they need to.

The Gun

The gun being carried by the boy in the second stanza symbolizes the overpowering presence of violence in war-stricken countries. The speaker describes the gun as...