1. ‘syntax’ –carol Ann Duffy

2. Structure and form
14 lines and a concluding couplet gives the impression that it is a sonnet, but it’s not; as it is neither Shakespearean or Petrarchan. This twist of a traditional form of love poetry, highlights the unconventional relationship and Duffy’s feelings on it.
The layout of the poem on the page, appears like the first two stanzas could slot into fit each other; emphasising the split of the couple.
Apart from irregular internal rhyme such as ‘this’ and ‘kiss’, which speeds the rhythm up, there is a lack of an overall rhyme scheme. This is a recurrent structural device of Duffy throughout the series of poems, and it shows the lack of ‘sing-songy’ tone and childlike happiness that could be attached to love.

3. Structure and form continued
The caesura in the lines such as ‘of a kiss- like this, thou-’, paired with some enjambment like ‘not I love you’ , shows the irregularity of her thoughts and feelings, with her passion of saying she loves her to be making her run on through any possible punctuation, yet other times shows her more pensive and hesitant.
Repetition of ‘I love’ and ‘I adore’ shows the remaining feelings that Duffy has; she’s reflecting yet the insistent use of these phrases suggests a passionate remain of them.

4. language
The use of ‘thou’ and ‘thine’ shows her desire for her love to be as traditional as the archaic language she’s using, it also shows her hesitance to actually say ‘I love you’. ‘Thou’ also sticks with the possible idea of a traditional sonnet.
‘clotting’ sounds like a harsh word to say and emphasises the extremity of the actions on her heart: the relationship was deadly to her.
The rest of the poem contains relatively mild and simple language, until the ending couplet, which are structurally used to conclude her thoughts and feelings, so the harshness is more appropriate here.

5. Phonological devices
Sibilance: ‘kiss like this’ ‘starts, stops starts’, the /s/ sound creates a soothing tone to the poem, it creates a sense of reflection and soft reminiscence.
Alliteration of ‘love’s language’ adds to the soothing sound of the ending lines.

6. The title ‘syntax’ seems ironic of the fact she seems to have structured her sentences strangely in this poem, it also doesn’t give the suggestion of an emotion for the poem; it brings her roots back to literary origins; as a writer.