Lucky Stars Poem

Childhood is portrayed as a time of safety that is often looked back upon with nostalgia from an adult perspective. Monosyllabic words are used to show the simplicity of childhood life, for example in the line “the thing I could not grasp or name”. The ‘spring violets’ are ‘in their loamy bed’ and are no longer frail and melancholy, and the memory takes place on a ‘hot afternoon’ in contrast to the ‘cold dusk’ that represents the present. Childhood is represented as a joyful, vivacious time in one’s life, and the value of a stable family life is conveyed. The unexpected integration of Australian vernacular in the line ‘it will soon be night, you goose’, adds a sense of freedom and relaxation to the otherwise formal discourse and more rigid structure of the poem, once again reflects the simplicity and innocence that is associated with childhood. The use of

Natasha Tretheway’s first two poems, leading introductions give an image of having false expectations and leads with another device of foreshadowing. “Theories of Time and Space,” and “The Southern Crescent” both show how the same situation happens to the mother, and then it happens again to her when she is with her mother. The train personifies as the mother’s life. She leaves at sixteen years old, “She is leaving behind, the dirt roads of Mississippi…” However she doesn’t ascertain for what she would find at the end of her journey. This ride involves another disappointment, just like the first trip. The speaker and her mother derail on their train ride and never reach their final destination. Both trips, the reader can imagine and feel the hope of visiting important man in their lives that let them down in the end. “Each small town pass before her window/ until light goes, and the reflection/ of mothers face appears clear now/ as evening comes on, dark and

My brother was born a silent thing in the midst of a harsh winter. At four years old, I was struck dumb by his beauty; he had wide pale eyes and lips that made me understand the meaning of rosebud. I envied him, knowing he’d be loved more than me. I should’ve known that darker things, too, would desire him.

The speaker says, “Sunsets would threaten us,” which means that they can’t continue their adventure and fulfil their curiosity without light (5). Since light is a symbol of knowledge, it also means that they can’t go on without knowledge. Also, the image of a snake shedding its skin shows change and improvement (1). Molting shows that a snake is growing, and it helps the snake see clearly1. Overall, the storytelling has a lasting effect on how the speaker sees the world, which is illustrated by the line “Her voice travels my shelves” (19). Her influence on the “shelves” of his mind will allow the speaker to appreciate his heritage. The very end implies change as well when the speaker says that the two boys are “still” joined in one shadow (21). The word “still” implies that this will eventually change, perhaps after they are no longer in the shadow of

In “The Poem You Asked For” by Larry Levis, he is comparing writing a poem by comparing it to a plant, stubborn person, and toad. Larry Levis, a 20th-century writer is well known for his brevity and surprise approach in poetry. This poem magnifies the complications that authors may face while trying to write something of such importance. The speaker uses an abundant amount of figurative language to personify how writing is so difficult, and can lead to many difficulties and dead ends. The author uses figurative language to portray the theme of difficulties in the writing process such as: difficulties prewriting, writers block, and how hard it is to let go of writing as an author.

The reflection of each poet's childhood is displayed within these lines helping to build a tone for the memories of each narrator.

“The five o’clock by the chimney still marked the time, but the oriole nest in the elm untenanted and rocked back and forth like an empty cradle” (Hurst 416). James Hurst, the author of the short story, “The Scarlet Ibis” uses imagery like this in his story to create a mysterious feeling for the reader. This short story is about two brothers, their relationship, and the regrets we all feel after loss. Hurst not only uses the narrative to create a sorrowful tone, but also various literary elements to get through to the reader. Through the use of figurative language, imagery, and symbolism, James Hurst creates a sorrowful tone in his short story, “The Scarlet Ibis”.

The whole second half of the poem is one giant extended metaphor!  Wilbur compares the difficulties of growing up those of an ‘iridescent creature’ – a ‘dazed starling’ that in spite of difficulties, ultimately flies free.  It serves as a metaphor for life’s ups and downs.

The author writes this poem in order to inspire the readers to not be stuck to expectations. Gwendolyn uses multiple metaphors in her poems such as “Maud, who went to college, Is a thin brown mouse. She is living all alone In this old house.. “, using this to describe to the readers that

In the poem First Poem for You by Kim Addonizio, Addonizio demonstrates what love is, with a short poem of acceptance. The poem gives the readers a sense of fear for love. The man has been through so much in his life. The woman uses tattoos as a way of symbolization on accepting his heritage, in other ways, where he has come from and been through. His tattoos are just a way of accepting unconditional love.

The speaker refers to the night as his acquaintance. This implies that the speaker has a lot of experience with the night, but has not become friends with it. Thus, because even the night, which has been alongside the speaker in comparison to anything or anyone else, is not a companion to the speaker, the idea of loneliness is enhanced. In addition, “rain” (2) is used to symbolize the speaker’s feelings of gloom and grief, because there is continuous pouring of the rain, which is unlikely to stop. In line 3, “city light” is used to convey the emotional distance between the speaker and society. Although the speaker has walked extensively, he has not yet interacted with anyone – thus distancing himself even further from society. Moreover, the moon, in lines 11 to 12, is used as a metaphor of the speaker’s feelings. The speaker feels extremely distant from society that he feels “unearthly.” The idea of isolation and loneliness in this poem is used as the theme of the poem; and the use of the setting and metaphors underscores the idea that the speaker feels abandoned from society.

Hayden utilizes diction to set a dark and solemn tone throughout the poem. Like the various examples of imagery, there is also a strong use of underlying symbolism. In the first stanza, the words “cold” (1. 2) and “fires blaze” (1. 5) are used, which introduces a conflict. This is emphasized in the second stanza when the word “cold” (2. 1) is used again, later followed by the word “warm” (2. 2). In the last stanza, the father eventually “had driven out the cold” (3. 2). Yet the father had not ridden the house of the cold air until the end of the poem, which symbolizes how it took his son several years later to recognize the behaviors in which his father conveyed his love for him.

Sharon Olds in "True Love" wonders about a true meaning of love in her uniquely written poem about a married couple. She hints that true love is about belonging to one another. That belonging or self-possession is reflected via ties of marriage. She further says that children, which are a product of marriage, only tighten marital bonds even more. The speaker starts her poem by describing two people having sex and looking at each other in a “complete friendship”. However, as much as the poem at first seems to have a positive meaning, the message appears to be quite opposite. In fact, “after making love, we look at each other in complete friendship" (2-3) sounds odd if used when describing the love between friends with benefits or a married couple. Friends with benefits contribute to unhealthy relationships that they are in, which is built on lust and only physical desire. Her poem, perhaps is an ironic portrayal of true love. A true love, if it even exists, is very difficult to preserve and can take a different turn especially within the marriage.

Collins uses words that are fused with loss and melancholy when he says “night” and “war” which indicate a tonal shift. He then also mentions the moon “drifting out of a love poem,” an emotional memory that one will never be able to recall again. The tone shift is also seen specifically through the words denoted in the poem; such as “slip” and “float” which imply a sense of a gradual and smooth process of forgetting.

Margaret Atwood creates a haunting and beautiful piece describing the experience a sad child goes through. She structures her poem by using five stanzas; two stanzas consisting of five lines, then one stanza with ten lines, and ending with two stanzas consisting of five lines. She uses simple yet powerful diction, tone, metaphors, similes, symbolism, and imagery to show the unknown speaker giving advice to a sad child. Her message/theme is sadness is a part of life and there are different ways to deal with it, but when death comes the thing that one is being sad about doesn’t matter.