This darkly satirical poem is about cultural imperialism. Dawe uses an extended metaphor: the mother is America and the child represents a younger, developing nation, slowly becoming imbued with American value systems. The figure of a mother becomes synonymous with the United States. Even the most basic of human relationships has been perverted by consumer culture. The poem begins with the seemingly positive statement of fact “She loves him…”. However, punctuation creates a feeling of unease, that not everything is as it seems, that there is a subtext that qualifies this apparently natural emotional attachment. From the beginning it is established that the child has no real choice, that he must accept the "beneficence of that motherhood", that the nature of relationships will always be one in which the more powerful figure exercises control over the less developed and more weak. The verb 'sunbeam' suggests the powerful sunlight, the emotional power of the dominant person: the mother. The verse ends with a rhetorical question, as if the child must undeniably accept the mother's gift of love. Dawe then goes on to examine the nature of that form of maternal love. The second stanza is about how the mother comforts the child: “Shoosh… shoosh… whenever a vague and passing spasm of loss troubles him.” The alliterative description of its "fat-friendly characteristics" suggests comfort and warmth. In this world pain is repressed, real emotion pacified, to maintain the illusion that the world is perfect. There is no need to doubt the wisdom of the omnipotent mother figure. The phrase "She loves him..." is repeated. This action of loving is seen as protection, isolation for the child. Likewise, our consumer culture ... middle of paper ... surrounded by the ancient symbol of fear, conveys the child's panic. The mother's approach is a source of terror for the child, written as if it were a horror film, suspense created with footsteps, the physical embodiment of fear, the turning of the doorknob. His terror as he "tries to escape" but "his large hands hold him down" is indicative of his helpless situation. The phrase “She loves him…” reiterates that this act signifies entrapment as there is no reciprocity of “love.” It is ironic that his love is considered "the scary fact." Clearly this form of love will destroy his innocence, his freedom to think for himself, his ability to achieve emotional fulfillment. We sense the oppressive and suffocating nature of this form of love, but also the nature of American cultural imperialism, which similarly stifles identity development and national fulfillment..