"In the Snack Bar" by Edwin Morgan is a thought-provoking poem in which an unusual character is described in immaculate detail. Edwin Morgan uses this poem to describe an elderly man, humpbacked from birth and blind that he encounters in a snack bar. He describes the man as he struggles to get to his feet and then announcing, to the customers of the snack bar, that he needs to go to the toilet. Edwin Morgan describes as he helps the old man, the only customer to do so. He describes as they struggle, slowly, the man dependant on him, down a flight of stairs, to the toilet and back outside where he watches the old man as he catches a bus. In his final paragraph the poet reflects on the life of the old man, suggesting some very provocative ideas to the reader.
Edwin Morgan uses many comparisons throughout this poem to describe the elderly character. The most memorable of these comparisons, in my opinion, is a simile used to describe the aged man in the first verse of the poem. Edwin Morgan describes the man, dressed in a "stained beltless gaberdine" as being "like a monstrous animal caught in a tent". This simile compares the man to a frightening man that is intimidating and unpleasant to look at. The word "monstrous" emphasises the unusual shape of the old man, due to his hunchback, which could make his shape similar to that of a monster you would expect to find in a child's story-tale. The word "tent" refers to the man's gaberdine making it appear to hang loosely and uncomfortably around the old man. This is a very effective simile in that it produces a well-rounded image of the man, helping the reader in visualising this part and the rest of the poem.
The poet's choice of language also adds to the effectiveness of his description of the disabled man. When writing the direct speech of the old man Edwin Morgan places hyphens throughout the sentence, braking it and suggesting a struggle.
