1. How are matters of size and distance important to the poem?

2. Explores metaphorical and literal emotional journey and process of growth individuals go through

3. "lingering even as growing speed and distance" diminish them" - Present participle 'lingering' and 'growing' suggest that it is an ever increasing process separating the writer from his loved ones - Suggests that they will always be in his memory reflecting the writers true thoughts and memories

4. "too far away for you to make out faces" - Makes it seem impersonal as the faces are both metaphorically and literally forgotten and erased from his mind - Phrase 'too far away' has a sense of longing and remorse emphasised by the word 'too' as it suggests unhappiness extra: 'you' involves the reader engaging them part of the story as the direct address helps them to envision and sympathise with the persona of the poem

5. "exits following exits you will pass" - Repetition of "exits" show the slow rise of independence of the persona + rise of adulthood - This also suggests a rite of passage and embracing the new whilst forgetting the old

6. "Bring them back in view as large as life" - Metaphor 'large as life' suggests that he views life as an already incredible factor, almost surreal element about it - 'Bring them back' has a sense of reminiscence and once again regret echoing 'too far away'.