Charles Causley

By : Amira Aufa Bt Mohd Ramzi

Raeidatun Najihah Bt Rizul Fadhli
Wan Syazana Bt Wan Suhaimi
What has happened to Lulu, mother?
What has happened to Lu?
There’s nothing in her bed but an old rag – doll
And by its side a shoe.
Why is her window wide, mother,
The curtain flapping free,
And only a circle on the dusty shelf
Where her money – box used to be?
Why do you turn your head, mother,
And why do the tear – drops fall?
And why do you crumple that note on the fire
And say it is nothing at all?
I woke to voices late last night,
I heard an engine roar.
Why do you tell me the things I
heard
Were a dream and nothing more?
I heard somebody cry, mother,
In anger or in pain,
But now I ask you why, mother,
You say it was a gust of rain .
Why do you wander about as though
You don’t know what to do ?
What has happened to Lulu, mother?
What has happened to Lu?
STANZA 1
The persona is questioning her mother
about the mysterious and sudden
disappearance of Lulu. As her bed is empty
except for old rag doll and a shoe. The
mother refuses to tell to the persona what
has happened.
STANZA 2
The window in the room is open and the
curtain is flapping while on the dusty shelf,
the money – box is missing. There is only
circle – shaped mark in its place.

STANZA 3
The persona wants to know why his mother
is shaking her head and shedding tears.
She has crumpled up a note and thrown it
into the fire, saying it is of no importance.
STANZA 4
The persona heard people talking and the
roar of a car engine late in the night but is
told it was all part of a dream.

STANZA 5
The persona also heard somebody cry
either in pain or anger but is told it was a
gust of rain.
STANZA 6
The persona wants to know why his mother
is wandering aimlessly. The persona is
confused about the disappearance of Lulu.
 Family
Love

Adult
Family
versus THEME
Value
child

Grief
PERSONA
Lulu sibling’s who keep asking her mother
where Lulu has gone.

LULU
Main character of this poem. Persona’s sibling
or elder sister who run away from home.

MOTHER
Persona and Lulu’s mother. She’s really sad
and worried when Lulu run away from home.
• Lulu is missing – ran away from home.
• A circle on the dusty shelf – sign the place
of the Lulu’s money bos.
• The persona heard voices at night before.
• Mother is wandering aimlessly.
• We should not even entertain the idea of running away from
home.
• We should be concerned about our parents’ feelings.
• We should not give parents and siblings reason to grieve.
• We should appreciate our parent’s love and care.
• We should remember that everyone, young and old, has to face
problems.
• We should realize that running away from problems is not a
solution.
• We should be brave to overcome every problems in our life.
NO. WORD MEANING

1. Old-rag-doll Not new doll made from

pieces of cloth

2. Flapping Wave up and down/

fluttering/ swinging

3. Crumple Wrinkle/ crush

4. Roar A loud sound

5. Gust Strong
ARE YOU READY GIRLS?
1. What does the persona notice about the bed
in Lulu’s room?
2. In your opinion, how do you think Lulu
escaped from the house? State the evidence
for your answer.
3. Why would mother shake her head? Explain
her feelings.
4. What does the ‘curtain flapping free’
symbolise?
5. What do the words ‘a circle on the dusty
shelf’ indicate?
THANK YOU!