Although this clearly would look dreadful and is a bodged job, Adcock sees the humour in this.Ī little side note here. There is a romantic humour to the description of her dyed hair actually being two different shades, with ‘ultramarine for the clipped sides’ and ‘jet-black spikes on top’. Throughout the poem this idea of admiration for Heidi’s rebellion comes out. More than that, it suggests that this event is something to be celebrated and remembered and thus is hugely supportive. The fact this poem is addressed to its subject, ‘For Heidi’, demonstrates the deeply personal nature of the subject. However, there are a lot of interesting elements that you should be able to probe and analyse. This is a very simple and straightforward poem and isn’t littered with poetic techniques. Heidi is allowed to resume her place at the school with her hideous blue barnet intact. The final stanza she Heidi being supported by an act of solidarity by her friend, who dyes her head, but in compliance with the uniform code and the school colours. In the fourth stanza, the school gives in, partly because of these arguments and partly because of the unspoken knowledge that Heidi is grieving and trying to find a way to come to terms with her mum’s death.

Rather than be willing to give in, Heidi provides her dad with more ammunition and reasons she should be allowed to keep it – cost and the fact that it probably wouldn’t even wash out. However, her dad supports her act of rebellion and tries to smooth things over with the school, and calms Heidi down, by making the point that her hair colour has nothing to do with her attitude or the way she works.

Obviously this causes some trauma and arguments at home, with Heidi feeling this is unfair. Although the school hadn’t thought to make this an official rule, the colour of her hair doesn’t match the uniform code and so she is sent back home to sort it out. The poem addresses Heidi, Adcock’s niece, and takes her back to the time she dyed her hair blue, which led to her being kicked out of school. The narrative of the poem is pretty simple and one that is familiar from my school days. It’s just a style.” (You wiped your eyes,

To school from your freedom-loving father:

School Colors Day by Alshia Moyez