Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Ten Pence Story" by Simon Armitage is a playful and imaginative poem that gives voice and character to a ten pence coin. The poem follows the journey and experiences of the coin as it moves through various hands and places, reflecting on its own value and purpose.

The coin's journey begins with its creation, "Out of the melting pot, into the mint," and it quickly finds itself in circulation. The coin's experiences are varied, from being used by a pimp in Leeds to being given to a busker, highlighting the transient and unpredictable nature of its existence. The coin feels devalued by being "poorly bartered" and reflects on how these initial exchanges set the tone for its life.

A significant period in the coin's life is spent at the bottom of a wishing well, where it feels overshadowed by a more prominent and oxidized tuppence. This time in the well symbolizes a low point, a sense of being stuck and overlooked.

After being rescued from the well, the coin resumes its journey, being used in phone booths and pool halls, but finds that these repetitive transactions dull its spirit. A dramatic moment occurs on a North Sea Ferry, where the coin almost gets lost at sea, prompting it to reflect on its entire life journey.

The coin is aware of its eventual fate – to be taken out of circulation, melted down, and recycled. This awareness brings a sense of melancholy but also acceptance. Despite being just a coin, it harbors dreams and ambitions, like being flipped at the center circle of Wembley Stadium, a moment of glory and significance.

The poem ends on a note of regret, with the coin feeling that it was never truly valued or given a chance to realize its potential. This feeling of being "robbed" and "badly tendered" speaks to a larger theme of unfulfilled potential and the randomness of life's opportunities.

"Ten Pence Story" is a clever and whimsical narrative that personifies an inanimate object, giving it depth and emotion. Through the journey of the coin, Armitage explores themes of value, purpose, fate, and the randomness of life's path. The poem is a reflection on how small, seemingly insignificant things can have their own stories and dreams, and how they are subject to the whims of chance and circumstance.

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