Darling (SQA National 5 English): Revision Note

Below is a guide to Jackie Kay’s poem ‘Darling’ in preparation for the SQA National 5 English exam. It includes:

• Overview: a breakdown of the poem, including its possible meanings and interpretations

• Writer’s methods: an exploration of Kay’s techniques and methods

• Understanding the poem: an exploration of the themes and ideas within Kay’s poem

• Linking the poems: an understanding of how ‘Darling’ connects to Kay’s other prescribed poems for the Scottish text section

Overview

In order to answer questions on any poem it is vital that you understand what it is about. This section includes:

• An overview of the poem

• A ‘translation’ of the poem, section-by-section

• A commentary of each of these sections, outlining Jackie Kay’s intention and message

'Darling' overview

Jackie Kay’s poem 'Darling' is an elegy, paying tribute to a close friendship. It is.said to be about Kay’s close friend, Julia Darling. In the poem, Kay reflects on, and grapples with, the death of a loved one. Its reflective quality emphasises the difficulty of retaining memories over time. The speaker recalls the moment of a dear friend’s death, but concludes by reassuring readers of the enduring nature of a close bond. 

'Darling' translation 

Lines 1-4

Translation

• The poem’s narrator directly addresses a reader: they explain that the detail of memories with a loved one may fade:

  • The sound of “her” voice may be forgotten

  • The way she looks as she sleeps might not be remembered

Kay’s intention

• Kay’s poem begins in second person, offering a universal message about grief:

  • It focuses on the fading of sensory memory after the death of someone close

• The focus of auditory and visual details conveys the intimacy of the relationship between the narrator and “her”:

  • The mention of "quiet weeping" suggests the speaker shared private moments 

  • The imagery created by “curled into the shape of a half moon” depicts their friend as small, perhaps fetal, emphasising their vulnerability

Lines 5-8

Translation

• The first person narrator describes tender moments together 

• Their loved one is described as small, alerting readers to the fact their friend is ill:

  • Nevertheless, the day was bright

• The narrator sings a song from childhood as she comforts her friend

Kay’s intention

• Kay’s imagery brings to life special moments with their weakened friend:

  • They were “already leaving”

  • Physical comfort (“I held her hand”) portrays a close bond

• The “blossoms” and the “sun” followed by “all seemed good” connotes to purity 

• Kay creates a nostalgic tone:

  • References to childhood imply a long-lasting bond

Line 9-10

Translation

• The narrator sings a line from the song she sang to her friend

• At the end of the song, her friend has “slipped away” (passed away)

Kay’s Intention

• The narrator recreates the moment of her friend’s death:

  • Kay’s song raises the theme of letting go

• The sibilance of “stopped singing” and “slipped” creates a dream-like quality

Lines 11-12

Translation

• The narrator imagines that, after death, their friend becomes a child again

• She is “already” the same small girl she once was, happy and carefree

Kay’s intention 

• Kay implies their friend is free from pain after death:

  • The description of them as a “slip of a girl” continues the sibilance

  • The moment is ethereal, again connoting to purity

• Kay creates a positive image of death:

  • Their friend’s heart is now “light” and they can skip and move, juxtaposing the image of them lying curled up in a fetal position

Lines 13-14

Translation

• The narrator says that they did not realise then that death is not final

• Death does not undermine the love or memories: their friend has not “really gone”

Kay’s intention

• The narrator reflects on lessons learned since their friend’s death

• The conversational tone begins to take on the form of advice:

  • Death, the narrator suggests, cannot destroy the shared bond

  • However, at the time of grieving, this cannot be realised 

Lines 15-16

Translation

• The narrator addresses the reader with two concluding statements:

  • They call the reader “loved ones” to deliver a message about the enduring nature of love

• The narrator decides that, even after the death of someone close, there is physical and emotional intimacy

Kay’s intention

• Kay’s elegy ends with a comforting message 

• The anaphora (“The dead”) reassures readers that love continues even after the loss of a loved one:

  • This is highlighted by addressing readers as “loved ones”

• The last phrase “holding our hands” refers back to the moment the narrator held their friend’s hand, highlighting the power of shared bonds and memories

Writer’s methods

Although this section is organised into three separate sections — form, structure and language — it is always best to move from what the poet is presenting (the techniques they use; the overall form of the poem; what comes at the beginning, middle and end of a poem) to how and why they have made the choices they have. 

Focusing on the poet’s overarching ideas, rather than individual poetic techniques, will gain you far more marks. Crucially, in the below sections, all analysis is arranged by theme and includes Jackie Kay’s intentions behind her choices in terms of:

• Form

• Structure

• Language

Form

Jackie Kay’s poem ‘Darling’ is an elegy. It describes an intimate moment during which the narrator’s close friend passes away. However, the direct address makes the poem inclusive, making it a reflection on grief. 

Structure

The poem consists of four regular quatrains written in free verse. The four regular stanzas adds formality to the melancholic subject of the poem. 

Language

Jackie Kay uses contrasting imagery that describes fragility and energy, and dark and light, to describe death. Kay’s vivid descriptions convey the significance of memories.

Understanding the poem

For the SQA National 5 English exam, it’s important to show a clear and thoughtful understanding of the poem’s themes and main ideas, as well as how the poet’s techniques and intentions help to convey meaning. This section focuses on two main themes that Kay examines in 'Whilst Leila Sleeps'.

• Nostalgia   

• Relationships

Nostalgia 

• Kay’s ‘Darling’ presents the theme of nostalgia through the loss of a loved one:

  • The narrator longs for their absent friend 

• Kay presents the human desire to hold on to specific memories like “the exact sound of her voice" or how their “face looked when sleeping":

  • Kay implies the fading of memories is part of the grieving process

• References to childhood present a nostalgic reflection on the innocence and physical freedom of youth:

  • Imagery relating to youth and childhood ("slip of a girl," "skipping") describes the friend as vibrant, innocent, and free

  • Perhaps Kay suggests that, in grief, there is a need to return the loved one to a time when they are strong, pain-free, and young

• The stirring of childhood memories highlights a long-lasting bond made of shared experiences: "I held her hand and sang a song from when I was a girl –":

  • The song serves as a link between the past (childhood) and the present (death): "Heel y'ho boys, let her go boys"

Relationships

• The theme of relationships is presented through descriptions of an intimate connection between friends:

  • The narrator’s close relationship with their friend is illustrated as they observe and recall private moments like "quiet weeping"

• The final moments underscore the narrator’s role as a comforter and carer during their crisis and until the end: "I held her hand"

• The phrase “let her go” in the song resonates with the idea of letting go of a close friend

• The poem defines the relationship as one that transcends physical life and death:

  • Kay’s poem speaks to readers about grief after the loss of a loved one: "what I didn't know or couldn't say then/was that she hadn't really gone"

  • The relationship is presented as permanent in the conclusion that "The dead don't go till you do, loved ones./The dead are still here holding our hands"

  • Kay ends the poem describing a spiritual connection that continues past death: “still here holding our hands"

Linking the poems

Most students who study Jackie Kay’s poetry for the SQA National 5 exam use it to answer the Scottish text section. However, you can choose to write your critical essay on Kay’s poetry.

If you choose Jackie Kay for the Scottish text section, you’ll need to demonstrate a broader understanding of her poetry in the final question, as required by the SQA. This means referring to ideas, themes, or techniques from at least one of her other poems.

The six prescribed poems by Jackie Kay are:

• 'Gap Year'

• ‘Keeping Orchids’

• ‘Whilst Leila Sleeps’

• ‘Grandpa’s Soup’

• ‘Darling’

• ‘Maw Broon Visits a Therapist’

The final question will likely concentrate on an aspect of content, such as theme or characters in the poems, or on a technique, such as use of imagery or contrast.

Below are some useful comparisons between the six prescribed poems.

Sources

Koval, Ramona, and Jackie Kay. “Jackie Kay - Poet.” Scottish Poetry Library. (opens in a new tab)Accessed 9 December 2025