Key learning points

1. 'Swallow's Kiss' is written in free verse.
2. Free verse is any form of poetry that does not rely on consistent patterns of rhyme and meter.
3. It is told from the perspective of Blessing, a young girl whose mother travelled across roads and seas to seek refuge.
4. Blessing's close relationship with her family is mirrored in the members of the community that are supporting them.

Keywords

• Verse novel - A verse novel is a narrative told through poetry, blending prose and poetic elements.

• Form - Form is the way that a text can be presented.

• Free verse - Free verse is poetry without strict rhyme or metre; it emphasises natural speech rhythms.

• Theme - A theme is a big idea, topic or message that recurs within a story.

• Migration - To migrate means to move from one place to another.

Common misconception