The school in which the child is educated is referred to as 'Mr Theophilus's jail', suggesting that he feels confined by his learning, and that it is simply society's expectation that he be educated. The classroom is described as being 'sun-striped', possibly symbolising the bars of a prison cell. Whilst in school 'the boy half listens to a story / of royalty-loving Christopher Robin.' This is a reference to a character from the popular childs' book 'Winnie the Pooh', suggesting that the persona is at a young age. These lines also depict the way in which 'Mr Theophilus' teaches the child patriotic, innocent lessons which deflect from the reality of the outside world. The fact that the persona 'half listens' could be a portrayal of how, no matter what we are taught in school, half of our minds will always work independantly and we will desire an obtention of knowledge through our own means. A comical tone is created through Abse's reference to 'Fatty Jones'.
The second stanza shows the persona to be 'free, at last', portraying the extent of confinement which his school provides. Abse's positioning of a comma between the words 'free' and 'at last' exaggerates the persona's sheer desperation to get out of the school, which he sees as a 'jail'. Abse's very visual description of the child's actions as he enters the outside world also emphasise his happiness; he appears to feel elated as 'he jet-roars out of school' and 'soars between the Hs / of the Millennium Stadium'. Abse presents the division between childhood and adulthood as he talks of the boy metaphorically 'fl[ying] to Africa / to see naked women'. This portrays the child's mind fantasising about adult themes which are probably inappropriate for his age, elements which have been hidden from him at school. It appears that he is independantly crossing the boundary between childhood and adulthood, and grasping at the idea of being grown-up (as most children of that age do). This more adult tone is sharply and comically shifted back to one of immaturity and childhood in the final line of the second stanza: 'farts H2Ss.'
The humorous, childlike tone of the poem changes in the third stanza. This stanza is short and obtains a dramatic edge, as the reader is told that 'someone has bombed the park.' This could be a reflection of how the persona's naivety and childhood are failing; he is becoming more aware of the adult world and the disasters which occur (all of which have been hidden from him by the teacher's innocent stories). This idea is continued through the first two lines of stanza four as Abse describes how 'Both the swings are on fire, / the empty see-saw is charred'. This destruction of childhood objects appears to suggest his naivety is being destroyed - he is no longer protected from reality. 'The wooden horses' which are 'running wild' could symbolise the persona himself, and how with age children in general become harder to control (they begin to think for themselves and realise what is going on outside of the textbook).
The childlike tone is recovered slightly as Abse makes reference to 'the enemy' who 'is a brute' - this paints an image of imaginary games, as does the claim that '(a sorcerer has cast his spell)'. The boy then 'Safely ... comes home to base', creating a sense of protection and suggesting that, at home, he is hidden from the outside world, safe from the harm of reality. The final stanza shows the persona 'chalk[ing] across the garden shed / FUCK WINNIE THE POOH.' This strongly symbolises a rebellion against the stereotypes and conformities of society, and the naivety which the child appears to be sick of. The final stanza acts as a concluding, humorous revelation that the persona, and children in general, cannot be protected forever and are looking for ways out of the monotonous routine which they are trapped inside - but for a certain amount of time at least, they must be drawn back in their 'figure of 8'.
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