MY MOTHER AT SIXTY SIX

Poetic Devices

Ashen like that of corpse Simile

But after the airport’s security check Alliteration

Pale as a late winter’s moon Simile

Felt that old familiar ache Alliteration

But all I said was see you soon Alliteration

Smile and smile and smile Repetition

AN ELEMENTARY CLASSROOM IN A SLUM

Poetic Devices

Far far Repetition

Like rootless weeds Simile

Paper seeming boy Metaphor

Rat’s eyes Metaphor

In tree room, other than this Alliteration

at dawn, civilized dome Alliteration

the world its world Repetition

Narrow street Metaphor

Sealed in with lead a sky Metaphor

Stars of wisdom Metaphor

Far far from rivers Repetition

Ships and Sun Alliteration

Ships and Sun and love Repetition

Cramped holes Metaphor

Endless night Metaphor

Like bottle bits on stones Simile

As big as doom Metaphor

All of their time Alliteration

Space are foggy slums Alliteration

As big as doom Metaphor

That shut upon their lives like catacombs Alliteration

like catacombs Simile

Break O break open till they break open Repetition

And let their tongues Alliteration

 KEEPING QUIET
Poetic Devices

we will count Alliteration

we will all keep Alliteration

not move our arms much Alliteration

without rush without engines Repetition

we would all be Alliteration

Sudden strangeness Alliteration

would not harm whales Alliteration

man gathering salt Symbol

his hurt hands Symbol

would look at his hurt hands Alliteration

wars with gas, wars with fire Repetition

Green wars Symbol

wars with gas, Symbol

wars with fire Symbol

Poetic Devices

would put on clean clothes Alliteration

walk about with their brothers Alliteration

Clean clothes Symbol

In the shade Symbol

what I want Alliteration

Life is what it is about Repetition

I want no truck with death Alliteration

If we were not so single minded Alliteration

earth can teach us personification