Poems: 2018- 2023 Themes and Literary Devices

Two poems are to be picked from each theme for comparison/discussion for your question:

Theme Poem Literary Device to Support Theme

-Repetition- Constant repetition of the word “I”
suggests that the persona recognizes that he is different
from the others in his class as he is “…the only coloured
Theme for English B student in my class.” He feels alienated because he is
asked to write an essay about himself and he wonders
how different it would or should be from the others in
his class.
- Contrast- The author compares at length the boys
compared to the poet. We can visualise the persona
through antithesis. He is everything that they are not;
softly spoken (words like stones), well dressed (torn
clothes, rags), passive (they ran and climbed), inhibited -
My Parents
modesty (they stripped by country streams), weak
(muscles of iron), well mannered (salt coarse pointing)
Alienation
lisp (parodied by copying), clumsy (lithe), and friendly
(hostile- they never smiled). All to highlight how
different the boy was from other boys his age.
-Alliteration- “…rosette of my
skin..strut..Sabina...something badly amiss.” Rosette
implies a reddish colour, or tint, to the skin, that
Test Match Sabina Park sometimes resembles a rose. This description
immediately identifies the race of the persona as
Caucasian. The persona is proud of his race, as he enters
Sabina Park. The word strut implies that he is proud.
-Repetition- Constant repetition of the word “I” points
to a yearning or a desperation even. By saying the word
Dreaming Black Boy
“I” it suggests that the persona feels alone in his
feelings, thoughts and world.
- Simile- To highlight his childhood experience of
bullying. “Words like stones”- to emphasize how harsh
the words were and how much they hurt him. “Muscles
like iron”- to show how strong the boys were. Also, how
My Parents physically strong they were compared to the possibly
weak persona of the poem. “They sprang out…like
dogs”- to show how vicious the children were and how
aggressive. This is in tune with their rough physical
Childhood
appearance.
Experiences
-Allusion- Stanza 4, lines 22 to 25, alludes to the klu klux
klan. Burning lights refers to the burning of crosses and
the pyjamas alludes to their white outfits that look like
pyjamas. The persona wants them to leave him alone,
Dreaming Black Boy
find something else to do other than make his life
difficult by contributing to his wishes remaining in the
realm of the dreams. He dreams and wishes for the
rights that should be accorded to all human beings -
 recognition and love, and the freedom of movement and
speech.
- Repetition- “Fly birds fly”- emphasizing how badly the
girl wish for freedom for the birds. But could also be the
Bird shooting Season
significant of their desire for freedom to grow old and
leave the home.
- Contrast- The persona shows the differences that exist
between the state, in his own case, “once upon a time”
of being young and innocent and that of being older and
Once Upon A Time
more experiences. By doing this he shows how easy it
was as a child in their innocence to be sincere but now
he has to wear all these “faces”
- Metaphor- “The ogre towers above you, that grim
giant.” -”Ogre”, “that grim giant” are both metaphors
Little Boy Crying
for the boy’s father. It shows how the boy feels towards
his father after being punished for playing in the rain.
-Personification- “…men make marriages with their
guns” Bird shooting is a popular sport among Jamaican
upper class and this shows how serious the men are
Bird shooting Season taking this sport and how much it means to them and
how much it makes them happy as a marriage is
supposed to make someone happy or is symbolic of
happiness.
-Simile- “She carried him like the poor carry hope, hope
you get a break or a visa, hope one child go through and
The Woman Speaks to the
remember you.” This references the Caribbean tradition
Man who Employed her Son
or culture of migration in the hopes of providing a
better a life for your loved ones back home.
Caribbean -Rhetorical Questions- Then again, if I didn't fly and
Culture and come to that fresh pulse in the middle of the night, how
Traditions would you, mother, name your ancient dread? The poet
Ol’ Higue is using rhetorical question to highlight Caribbean
culture and tradition of persons using the Ol’ Higue as
an excuse for the murder of their young ones when
perhaps it was them.
-Rhetorical Question-“Cricket. Not the game they play
at Lords, the crowd - whoever saw a crowd at a cricket
match? This question reveals that, despite the fact that
cricket is a popular sport in England, the venues for the
Test Match Sabina Park
matches are not crowded. This question could also point
to the fact that Sabina Park was very crowded as cricket
is a very popular sport/tradition in the Caribbean due to
our colonial past.
-Simile- San Juan's glitter is compared to a “…like a
maverick's gold ring.” This implies that San Juan, Puerto
Rico is in the Caribbean, but not a part of the
Caribbean. It belongs to America.
Colonialism West Indies U.S.A
-Allusion- Dallas is an oil rich state in America.
Therefore, many of its inhabitants are wealthy, and the
state itself, is wealthy. By stating that San Juan is the
 Dallas of the West Indies, it implies that it is a wealthy
island in the West Indies and this perhaps is due to its
close association with America.
- Simile- “Like a plague of locusts”. Comparing the
destructive locusts to the Europeans who would have
descended on the islands and wreaked havoc during
colonisation

- Personification- “Whilst trees bend to let it pass”-

Giving the trees human like qualities and imitating the
An African Thunderstorm men bent who were helpless to colonial invasion and
had to serve white masters.

The “pelting march of the storm”- The storm is

compared to an invading army with its tattered flags, the
smell of smoke and the marching soldiers. The effect is
to make the reader feel that the village has been invaded
and taken captive by an unstoppable force.
- Metaphors- “Red flowers bent their heads in awful
sorrow” and “The Shining sun is hidden from the sky”.
This is the Dark Time My This reveals Carter’s bitterness and sadness towards the
Love British invaders who have invaded his beloved Guyana.
He also expresses pity for his Guyanese people. He also
evokes this from the reader.
- Oxymoron- “festival of guns, the carnival of misery.
The contrast in this device is startling.-The terms
'festival' and 'carnival' not only describes fun and
festivity, but also a large amount of each. Both words
are associated with huge crowds. This emphasizes how
terrible the times have become because guns and misery
This is the Dark Time My
are plentiful.
Love
- Personification- “red flowers bend their head in awful
sorrow” Because flowers are usually associated with
feelings of happiness and cheerfulness. Therefore, if the
flowers – ambassadors of joy - are sad, then it highlights
Conflict
how really sad the times have become.
(External)
The conflict is with his country

-Personification- “…your eyes…accuses and convicts

me…” The love interest's eyes constantly accuses and
convicts the persona which highlights the extent to
It is the Constant Image of which the persona has hurt this person.
Your Face
“…hope that she…will pardon freely.” The persona
hopes that his country, his other dearest love, will
forgive him for the treasonous act of loving another.
This highlights the patriotism that defines the persona's
relationship to his country.
Conflict It is the Constant Image of The conflict with himself
(Internal) Your Face
 -Oxymoron- The term “heart's-treachery” implies that
the heart, something so vital and indicative of love, has
committed a terrible crime. It highlights the heartbreak
that the persona has caused his love interest.
- Irony- “Show me son.” One expects the child to be the
one who learns from his parent but in this poem it is the
Once Upon A Time father who wants to learn from the child. This reflects
that he doesn’t know how to be anymore and is looking
to his son and his innocence to guide him.
Rhetorical Question- “I wonder if it’s that simple?” and
“So will my page be coloured?” The persona wonders
how much different will his story be from the others
being the only black person in his class. He is at conflict
Theme for English B with his assignment- he doesn’t know what he should
actually write. Also he is highlighting how complex the
assignment is as he struggles to accomplish his
assignment because he questions the similarities and
dissimilarities between himself and his instructor.
-Simile- “She carried him like the poor carry hope.” The
persona emphasizes that the mother placed all her hopes
in her son. When you are poor, generally, you have no
The Woman Speaks to the
prospects, you only dream and hope. Therefore, the
Man Who Employed her
persona uses this metaphor to emphasize the mother’s
Son
dependence her son's success and now he has found
himself caught up in a father like figure who has given
him “…one whole submachine gun.”
-Allusion- To the Greek God Narcissus who keeps
looking at his reflection in the lake. He was obsessed
Mirror
with his reflection and beauty and so too is the persona
obsessing of growing old and losing her beauty.
-Imagery- “She went downtown and bought three and
one-third yard of black cloth and a deep crowned and
veiled hat for the day he draw his bloody salary.” The
black cloth is symbolic of death. The death that the
mother expects her son will receive from living this life.
The Woman Speaks to the
Man who Employed her Son
-Allusion- The biblical allusion “She is throwing a
partner with Judas Iscariot's mother the thief on the left
hand side of the cross” This allusion reminds of Judas’
death on the cross. Just as he betrayed his mother, so
Death too does the persona feel betrayed.
-Repetition- Repetition of the word “guns” which ae
dangerous and agents of death. Especially when
contrasted against the powerless animals they are going
Bird shooting Season
after- birds. This is further reinforced by the imagery of
the girls “shaking” in fright as they fear the fate of the
birds urging them to “Fly birds Fly.”
-Allusion- To the Greek God Narcissus who keeps
looking at his reflection in the lake. He was obsessed
Mirror
with his reflection and beauty and so too is the persona
obsessing of growing old and losing her beauty.
 However, he spends so much time looking in the mirror
and becomes so consumed by his reflection that he ends
of falling into the lake dying. This is used by the author
to highlight the fact that the persona is spending so
much time concerned with her appearance time
continues to pass and her old age and eventually death is
creeping up on her.
-Irony- One would think that men with ‘virtuous’ hands
would have only pure thoughts, but these men intend to
stone the woman, who seems utterly defenceless intend
A Stone’s Throw to inflict harm/death on her for her actions. This is
further supported by the use of imagery which highlight
cruelty, such as ‘bruised’, ‘kisses of stone’, ‘battery’ and
‘frigid rape’.
-Simile- “Obscene as cancer.” Owen presents us with a
short brutal comparison. Like cancer is a killer and
symbolic of death, the presence of the man’s blood due
Dulce Et Decorum Est.
to death by drowning in poison is also symbolic of
death. Also, it is offensive and painful to watch so too
can someone dying of cancer.
-Rhetorical Question- “Then again, if I didn't fly and
come…how would you, mother, name your ancient
dread? And who to blame for the murder inside your
head …?” This refers to the moments, when out of pure
frustration and tiredness, a mother might wish ill or
death on her child. The Ol' Higue is implying that, again,
Ol’ Higue
she can be used as a scapegoat if something unfortunate
happens to the child.

Also, she references death when she acknowledges that

she “can never die” as long as there are women giving
birth.
-Repetition- The constant repetition of the phrase I wish
points to a yearning, a desperation even, for the basic
things that life has to offer. It gives rise to the idea that
the persona might believe that his wishes are actually
dreams that might not come true for themselves.
Dreaming Black Boy
-Allusion- The allusion to Paul Robeson, a black
intellectual, who attained success despite difficult
Dreams circumstances highlights that the persona yearns to be
Desires like this person. He wants room to stretch intellectually
Aspirations and become great and not have to be subject to
decimation due to his skin colour.
-Rhetorical Question- “You think I wouldn’t rather take
my blood seasoned in fat black pudding, like everyone
else?” This rhetorical question reveals to the audience
Ol’ Higue
that the Ol’ Higue perhaps desires to be free and normal
like everyone else and no longer confined to her
situation of “…frightening the foolish.”
Mirror -Allusion- To the Greek God Narcissus who keeps
 looking at his reflection in the lake because he was very
beautiful. So too the persona desires and dreams to
remain as beautiful. However, this dream/desire cannot
be sustained as the persona has now “drowned a young
girl” in the mirror suggesting that as time is passing she
is getting older and perhaps losing her beauty hence why
she rewards the mirror with tears and agitation.
-Simile- “…their flowing runs on like our
longing…”The persona compares the flowing of the
rivers, which represents the north, to his longing for his
South
island home. This comparison indicates that his longing
is an intense one, he is homesick and desires to return
home to his island.
-Repetition- Repetition of the phrase “Once Upon A
Time” implies that the persona is nostalgic about the
Once upon a Time past and dreams to go back to a tie of innocence where
he didn’t have to have all these faces. A place where he
could laugh with his heart and his eyes.
- Repetition- “Fly birds fly”- emphasizing how badly the
girl dreams not only for freedom for the birds because
Bird shooting season they are powerless to do anything else but also for her
freedom from the restrictions that her gender assigns
her to.
-Allusion- The poet uses biblical allusion when he
references the word 'rod' which refers to the rod of
correction that is found in the Christian Bible. This line
implies that God will punish man for being reckless with
the world by smudging and trodding.
God’s Grandeur
“The Holy Ghost over bent…” this biblical allusion also
shows that despite the action of man on the
environment/earth, the greatness and glory of God
would ensure that “nature is never spent.”
-Allusion- Mitchell (the poet) also uses biblical allusion
in this poem referencing the story of Mary Magdalene to
show that we are all guilty of sin as such do not have the
God A Stone’s Throw right or moral authority to persecute others. When the
Religion “Preacher, God-merchant…knelt to “her level” it
mirrors when Jesus bent to Mary and causes the men to
be introspective about their actions.
- Allusion- Goodison (the poet) uses biblical allusion
numerous times throughout the poem. “…wondering
what kind of father…when he asks him for bread.” This
line alludes to a particular verse in the Christian Bible,
Luke 11 vs 11. The verse questions what the actions of a
The Woman Speaks to the
good father should be.
Man who Employed her Son
“She is throwing a partner with Judas Iscariot’s
mother…” In the Christian Bible, Judas Iscariot
betrayed Jesus. Therefore, it does not bode well for the
mother if she is in a 'partnership' with this person's
 mother because she might also be betrayed. The banker
in the 'partnership' also happens to be the thief on the
left hand side of the cross' mother. This also does not
bode well for the mother if the apple does not fall far
from the tree.

The use of the word “Absalom.” Absalom is the son of

David, in the Christian Bible. Absalom betrayed his
father, which implies that the mother feels betrayed by
her son because she has placed all her hopes in him.
-Repetition- “…have trod, have trod, have trod” This
device highlights the extent of the damage that man has
done to the world for their own advantage and
development.

- Alliteration- “…bleared, smeared…” To show man’s

God’s Grandeur
disregard for the environment and the extent of the
damage he has done for his own advantage and
development.

However, despite man’s greed, “…nature is never

spent.”
The author uses a combination of literary devices to
reflect greed in the poem,
Greed
-Simile- “Like dice tossed on a casino’s blaze…” Puerto
Rico is compared to dice that is tossed on a casino's
baize, it can either come up with winning numbers, or
losing numbers. Puerto Rico comes up with winning
numbers in the game of chance, as reflected in its
wealthy exterior, which is supported by America.
West Indies U.S.A.
However, to reflect the greed he uses:

-Comparison- The poet compares or likens San Juan to

a broken TV where it looks good on the outside, but
broken on the inside to highlight American influence on
the island where they have perhaps set up the island to
serve their interests but not those of the wider
population or the poor.
-Rhetorical Question- “You think I wouldn’t rather take
my blood seasoned in fat black pudding, like everyone
else?” This rhetorical question reveals to the audience
that the Ol’ Higue perhaps desires to be free and normal
Human like everyone else and no longer confined to her
Suffering Ol’ Higue situation of simply “…frightening the foolish.” Also, she
Oppression is oppressed and confined to her actions because, “…if I
didn’t fly and come…how would you…name your
ancient dread?” And with all of this, the Ol’ Higue
would never be free as “long as it have women giving
birth a poor ol’ Higue like me could never dead.”
 -Repetition- The constant repetition of the phrase I wish
points to a yearning, a desperation even, for the basic
things that life has to offer. He does not want to
continue living a life where he is discriminated on due to
the court of his skin.
Dreaming Black Boy
-Allusion- The allusion to Paul Robeson, a black
intellectual, who attained success despite difficult
circumstances highlights that the persona yearns to be
like this person. He wants room to stretch intellectually
and become great and not have to be subject to
decimation due to his skin colour.
- Personification- “red flowers bend their head in awful
sorrow” Because flowers are usually associated with
feelings of happiness and cheerfulness. Therefore, if the
This is the Dark Time My
flowers – ambassadors of joy - are sad, then it highlights
Love
how really sad the times have become. It also mimics the
sadness of the people in Guyana at the time who are
upset by this unwanted invasion of British troops.
-Alliteration- “quick slap struck” which sounds out the
punishment that the little boy has just received from his
father because he as caught playing in the rain. As a
result the boy’s mouth contorts and his laughter has
Little Boy Crying now become “howls” As a result of this punishment the
boys now sees his father as an ogre towering above him
and refers to him as a grim giant. This shows how hurt
the little boy is but his punishment and how he sees his
father.
-Allusion- To the Greek God Narcissus who keeps
looking at his reflection in the lake because he was very
beautiful. So too the persona desires and dreams to
remain as beautiful but this desire cannot be sustained as
Mirror
the persona has now “drowned a young girl” in the
mirror suggesting that as time is passing she is getting
older and perhaps losing her beauty hence why she
rewards the mirror with tears and agitation.
-Rhetorical Questions- “What sort o battin dat man?”
and “Eh white bwoy, how you brudders dem dies sen
we sleep so?” This coupled with the use of Creole
Test Match Sabina Park language is used to inject humour into to the piece
which also highlights the cultural difference between the
persona and the people at the game and how
badly/slowly the game is going.
Humour - Rhetorical Question- “You think I like this
stupidness…to frighten the foolish?” This rhetorical
question highlights the scant regard that the Higue has
for the average person. She is thoroughly annoyed that
Ol’ Higue
she has to literally waste her energy on them. This
evokes humour as one would think that the Ol’ Higue
likes to do what she does. But rather her entire life is an
inconvenience.
 - Sarcasm- “But the pilot’s bland…stay on the plane, I
repeat, stay on the plane. Subtle uncle Sam afraid…”
This sarcasm expressed by the Brown evoke humour
West Indies U.S.A because Uncle Sam is being nothing by subtle in his
attempt to exert control over an island that is actually a
US protectorate and one would rightfully expect it to be
treated the same as other states.
-Allusion- Biblical allusion to the story of Mary
Magdalene who was going to be stoned for prostitution
by a group of angry men and is saved by a “Preacher”
God Merchant” who forces the men to look inward and
contemplate the fact that who are they to judge others
when they too are guilty of sin.
A Stone’s Throw
Men caught her a roughed her up but still justifying their
intentions “she's felt men's hands, greedy over her body,
but ours were virtuous, of course” if a man touches a
woman's body without her permission how can he be
virtuous.
-Repetition- “…have trod, have trod, have trod” This
device highlights the extent of the damage that man has
done to the world for their own advantage and
Human Cruelty
development.

- Alliteration- “…bleared, smeared…” To show man’s

God’s Grandeur
disregard for the environment and the extent of the
damage he has done for his own advantage and
development.

However, despite man’s greed, “…nature is never

spent.”
-Repetition- Repetition of the word “guns” which ae
dangerous and agents of death. Especially when
contrasted against the powerless animals they are going
Bird Shooting Season
after- birds. This is further reinforced by the imagery of
the girls “shaking” in fright as they fear the fate of the
birds urging them to “Fly birds Fly.”
-Repetition- Repetition of the word “face”. “I have
learned to wear many faces like dresses – homeface,
officeface, streetface, hostface, cocktailface” This
emphasizes the constant changes in the persona's face.
How often a woman changes her dress, then that is how
Hypocrisy often the persona adjusts his personality to suit the
Appearance vs. people around him. The list of faces emphasizes this
Once Upon A Time
Reality point.
Deception
-Simile- “…like a fixed portrait smile.” This simile
compares people's faces to smiles in a portrait which are
very formal and stiff, even uncomfortable. Therefore,
the implication is that the smiles are actually fake and
stiff. They are conforming, or trying to fit, to a
 preconceived mold that is set up by societal
expectations.

-Rhetorical Question- “You think I wouldn’t rather take

my blood seasoned in fat black pudding, like everyone
else?” This rhetorical question reveals to the audience
that the Ol’ Higue perhaps desires to be free and normal
like everyone else and no longer confined to her
Ol’ Higue situation of simply “…frightening the foolish.” Also, she
is oppressed and confined to her actions because, “…if I
didn’t fly and come…how would you…name your
ancient dread?” And with all of this, the Ol’ Higue
would never be free as “long as it have women giving
birth a poor ol’ Higue like me could never dead.”
-Allusion- “San Juan’s fools-glitter” is an allusion to the
saying “all that glitters is not gold”. The poet uses
descriptions of the city to contrast wealth and poverty.
Wealth is described with “pulsing city streets”,
“condominiums” and “polished Cadillacs”. At the same
time, the city has “galvanized shanties”. The persona
West Indies U.S.A compares San Juan to a TV that has fallen and is now
broken. It is now useless, just as Puerto Rico will be if it
no longer has anything to offer. It modern but like the
broken television being modern cannot protect it from
being damaged. It is “sharp and jagged and dangerous”
because unlike other places in the region cultures have
not melted and there is inequality.
Rhetorical Question- “I wonder if it’s that simple?” and
“So will my page be coloured?” The persona wonders
how much different will his story be from the others
being the only black person in his class. Also he is
Theme for English B
highlighting how complex the assignment is as he
struggles to accomplish his assignment because he
questions the similarities and dissimilarities between
himself and his instructor.
-Alliteration- Used to show how unwelcoming the
‘north’ is. “Sojourned in stoniest cities” shows how the
cities are made of stone and not filled with green spaces
like the island. The use of the word sojourned suggests
Identity
that the persona only intends to stay there temporarily.
“Sharp, slanting sleet” gives the impression that it is cold
and uncomfortable. And “crossed countless salt less
savannas” gives the impression that the ‘north’ is lacking
South
the feeling of home and relaxation for the persona. This
is the contrast the persona uses comparing the
unfriendliness of the ‘north’ to the warmth of the
‘south’. In this stanza the persona begins to make
judgements about the river and its water as compared to
the sea and its water. The river is associated with
oppression and bitterness in the phrase “tepid taste”.
The ‘north’ is known for its large rivers and it has
 impacted the culture of those countries, e.g. the United
States and Canada. The persona criticises the mindset of
these people who work continuously just like the river
flows but in many cases without a clear goal to achieve.
In the ‘south’, the people are looked at as being laid back
but in reality they enjoy life more. He feels more at
home and himself in the south- his home.
-Repetition- Constant repetition of the word “I” points
to a yearning or a desperation even. By saying the word
“I” it suggests that the persona feels alone in his
Dreaming Black Boy feelings, thoughts and world. He wants to be able to be
himself and be free to be able to succeed in life and not
be discriminated against because of the colour of his
skin.
-Repetition- Repetition of the phrase “Once Upon A
Time” implies that the persona is nostalgic about the
past and dreams to go back to a tie of innocence where
Once Upon A Time
he didn’t have to have all these faces and change himself
to suit others. A place where he could laugh with his
heart and his eyes and be his authentic self.
-Repetition- “…have trod, have trod, have trod” This
device highlights the extent of the damage that man has
done to the world. Trodding implies that one walks, or
tramples, in order to crush or injure.

God’s Grandeur - Alliteration- “…bleared, smeared…” To show man’s

disregard for the environment and the extent of the
damage he has done.

-Simile- “…like shining shook foil”. How bright the

world shines with God’s greatness.
-Simile- “the city…like a garment wear the beauty of the
morning.” The persona compares the manner in which
Nature/Beauty, Sonnet Composed Upon the beauty of the morning settles over the city, to that of
Environment, Westminster Bridge a garment on a body. This emphasizes the perfection of
Landscape, the beauty of the morning, just as a garment flows
Destruction of smoothly over a body.
Environment - Simile- “the blossoms were full blown like polished
Orchids poems.” Comparing the orchid to a beautiful poem,
something the persona is familiar with as she is a writer
-Personification- The “pelting march of the storm”- The
storm is compared to an invading army with its tattered
flags, the smell of smoke and the marching soldiers. The
effect is to make the reader feel that the village has been
invaded and taken captive by an unstoppable force.
An African Thunderstorm
-Simile- The wind moves “like a madman chasing
nothing”- This is effective because it suggests that there
is no order or logic to the movement of the wind and
that the energy and craziness of the wind are a bit
frightening.
 -Allusion- Biblical allusion to the story of Mary
Magdalene who was going to be stoned for prostitution
by is saved by a “Preacher” God Merchant” who forces
A Stone’s Throw
the men to look inward and contemplate the fact that
who are they to judge others when they too are guilty of
sin.
-Allusion- Biblical allusion to the crucifixion of Judas
Iscariot on the cross who betrayed his mother similar to
how the persona is betrayed by her son in the poem.

The use of the word “Absalom.” Absalom is the son of

David, in the Christian Bible. Absalom betrayed his
The Woman Speaks to the father, which implies that the mother feels betrayed by
Man who Employed her Son her son because she has placed all her hopes in him.

However, even though the mother is betrayed she still

prays for her son. The repetition of the word “psalms”
shows how much the mother cares for her son and still
continues to pray for his soul as she knows that this
partnership can only end in death.
In the third stanza, the complexity of change, judgment
and punishment are revealed in the emotions of the
father, who will "piggy-back, bull-fight, anything" with
his son who only understands play. Yet the father wants
Sin and to teach his son a valuable lesson he "should learn."
Both are suffering through the ordeal of punishment:
Forgiveness
the father who has a "fierce" love for his son and the
son who is suffering because of the slap)

He has to pretend being something is not; "behind that

Little Boy Crying mask" there is a man who suffers the situation more that
the kid, but he has to be seen as a strict authority, as any
parent must. This poem reflects nothing but the truth of
an ordinary relationship between any father and his son
during the growing and maturing process of the kid; but
it does not end there: in the last paragraph, which is also
the last line, there is a sentence emphasized by being left
alone, that carries a moral in it: "you must not make a
plaything of the rain". This is a metaphor that could be
translated as: "you must not cry just because" (the rain
represents the tears)
-Allusion- The poet uses biblical allusion when he
references the word 'rod' which refers to the rod of
correction that is found in the Christian Bible. This line
implies that God will punish man for being reckless with
the world by smudging and trodding.
God’s Grandeur
“The Holy Ghost over bent…” this biblical allusion also
shows that despite the action of man on the
environment/earth, the greatness and glory of God
would ensure that “nature is never spent.”
 “They threw mud While I looked the other way,
pretending to smile. I longed to forgive them but they
My Parents never smiled.” The poet longs to forgive the boys for
their actions of bullying. He also seems to be envious of
their carefree abilities and their strength.
- Metaphor- The use of phrases such as ‘drunk with
fatigue’ and ‘deaf even to the hoots’ could be interpreted
as metaphorical ways of showing the men’s physical
state during this difficult and significant experience of
Dulce Est Decorum Est war. The entire poem graphically depicts a central irony
of death on a battlefield: No matter how noble the cause
Significant
may be, the individual soldier can expect nothing but
Experience of
misery in combat and an ignominious end should he be
Event unfortunate enough to become a casualty.
-Alliteration- “Brown Beetles crawling about” which
perhaps references tanks or crop eating bugs which are
This is the Dark Time my
symbolic of destruction implies to the reader that evil or
Love
danger is at hand. Which in this case is the invasion of
British troops in his beloved home town of Guyana.
-Allusion- To the Greek God Narcissus who keeps
looking at his reflection in the lake. He was obsessed
Mirror
with his reflection and beauty and so too is the persona
obsessing of growing old and losing her beauty.
Superstition,
Folklore/Super -Simile- “Burning out myself like cane fire.” Cane-fire
has a very distinct quality. It burns very quickly and its
natural
presence is felt through its pungent smell. Therefore,
Ol’ Higue
when the Ol' Higue compares herself to cane fire in her
fireball state, it implies that she uses a lot of energy
quickly, and is very visible.
-Alliteration- Used to show how unwelcoming the
‘north’ is. “Sojourned in stoniest cities” shows how the
cities are made of stone and not filled with green spaces
like the island. The use of the word sojourned suggests
that the persona only intends to stay there temporarily.
“Sharp, slanting sleet” gives the impression that it is cold
and uncomfortable. And “crossed countless saltless
savannas” gives the impression that the ‘north’ is lacking
the feeling of home and relaxation for the persona. This
is the contrast the persona uses comparing the
Patriotism
unfriendliness of the ‘north’ to the warmth of the
National Pride South
‘south’. In this stanza the persona begins to make
Nationalism
judgements about the river and its water as compared to
the sea and its water. The river is associated with
oppression and bitterness in the phrase “tepid taste”.
The ‘north’ is known for its large rivers and it has
impacted the culture of those countries, e.g. the United
States and Canada. The persona criticises the mind-set
of these people who work continuously just like the
river flows but in many cases without a clear goal to
achieve. In the ‘south’, the people are looked at as being
laid back but in reality they enjoy life more. He feels
 more at home and himself in the south- his home.
-Repetition- The repetition of the phrase “This is the
dark time, my love”, serves to make the reader aware of
the terrible situation the country is in. The British
occupation is being referred to as the “dark time”. There
phrase “my love” can refer to the Guyanese people who
the poet seeks to address directly and motivate and
encourage to resist the occupation. It can also be a
This is the Dark Time my personification of the country itself and shows the
Love poet’s deep love for his country.

-Personification- “The shining sun is hidden in the sky”

and “Red flowers bend their heads in awful sorrow”
shows the extent of the sorrow being experienced by the
people of Guyana for their country also their immense
love for their country. It even illustrates how even
nature is hurt by the British invasion.
-Personification- The sun is referred to as a male who
rises sharply and beautifully. This emphasizes the beauty
of the city in the morning. The use of this
Sonnet Composed Upon personification also helps the reader to personalize this
West Minster Bridge beauty and understand the deep love and pride the poet
has for his country as he thinks that, “Dull would he be
of soul who could pass by A sight so touching in its
majesty.”
-Symbolism- “rosette of my skin” - Rosette implies a
reddish colour, or tint, to the skin, that sometimes
resembles a rose or the poppy which is indicative of
Test Match Sabina Park
British culture. This description immediately identifies
the race of the persona as Caucasian. The persona is
proud of his race, as he enters Sabina Park.
-Personification- The “pelting march of the storm”- The
storm is compared to an invading army with its tattered
flags, the smell of smoke and the marching soldiers. The
effect is to make the reader feel that the village has been
invaded and taken captive by an unstoppable force.
An African Thunderstorm
-Simile- The wind moves “like a madman chasing
nothing”- This is effective because it suggests that there
is no order or logic to the movement of the wind and
Power and that the energy and craziness of the wind are quite
Powerlessness powerful.
- Alliteration- “Men make marriages” and “macho” in
the first stanza. Emphasis on how much time and care
go into the preparation of their guns and their sport.
Macho associated with manly and the fact that all of the
Bird Shooting Season men are gathered at the house, the house has become
more manly/macho with the number of the men in it.

- Repetition- “Fly birds fly”- emphasizing how badly the

girl wish for freedom for the birds because they are
 powerless to do anything else.
-Irony- One would think that men with ‘virtuous’ hands
would have only pure thoughts, but these men intend to
stone the woman, who seems utterly defenceless. Also,
images of cruelty are used, such as ‘bruised’, ‘kisses of
A Stone’s Throw
stone’, ‘battery’ and ‘frigid rape’. This shows that the
woman is powerless to the actions of the men as they
believe themselves to be doing the right thing or
‘virtuous’.
-Alliteration- “Wears man’s smudge and shares man’s
smell.” This device emphasizes the powerful impact
that man has had on his environment. He has impacted
the world in some negative way, as implied by words
such as 'smudge'.

“Their lives the dearest freshness deep down ---things.”

God’s Grandeur This device clarifies that the Earth is powerful and
resilient, no matter what man does to harm it, it will
bounce back.

“…morning, at the brown brink eastward, springs…”

This device simply re-iterates the resilience of the Earth,
we can actually visualize the sun rising and see how
powerful God and the earth s despite man’s destruction.
-Repetition- Repetition of the word “psalms” “She reads
psalms for him she reads psalms for you” show how
powerless the woman is in the face of this man who has
The Woman Speaks to the
given her son “…one whole submachine gun…”
Man who Employed her Son
Though she has raised him as both father and mother,
the son now sees this man as “a father to him” and now
all she can do is pray and hope for the best for her son.
-Metaphor- “The ogre towers above you, that grim
giant”. ”Ogre”, “that grim giant” are both metaphors for
Little Boy Crying the boy’s father. It shows how powerless and afraid the
boy feels towards his father after he has been punished
for playing in the rain.
-Simile- “Words like stones”- to emphasize how hard
the words were. “Muscles like iron”- to show how
strong the boys were. Also, how physically strong they
were compared to the possibly weak persona of the
My Parents poem. “They sprang out…like dogs”- to show how
vicious the children were and how aggressive. This was
further enhanced by the fact that the persona did
nothing in response but looked on perhaps in
admiration at the boys.
- Alliteration- “…brown beetles crawl about”. Some
variety of brown beetles are scavengers that feed on
This is The Dark Time my decaying or dead carcasses or feeding on the corpses. It
War
Love implies that a lot of dead or decaying bodies exist in the
land.
 - Oxymoron- “festival of guns, the carnival of misery.
The contrast in this device is startling.-The terms
'festival' and 'carnival' not only describes fun and
festivity, but also a large amount of each. Both words
are associated with huge crowds. This emphasizes how
terrible the times have become because guns and misery
are plentiful.
- Personification- “red flowers bend their head in awful
sorrow” Because flowers are usually associated with
feelings of happiness and cheerfulness. Therefore, if the
flowers – ambassadors of joy - are sad, then it highlights
how really sad the times have become.
- Metaphor- The use of phrases such as ‘drunk with
fatigue’ and ‘deaf even to the hoots’ could be interpreted
as metaphorical ways of showing the men’s physical
state

Simile- ‘like old beggars’. The soldiers are deprived of

Dulce Et Decorum Est
dignity and health like the elderly and dispossessed who
are reduced to begging for a living.

‘like a man in fire or lime’. Lime is a strong alkali which

burns the skin as does flame; Owen is witnessing the
agony of a man on fire.
- Contrast- Contrast of stanza 1 and 2. The actions of
men vs the actions of women signify the gender
divisions in society and the difference between the roles
of the two groups. Also, one can contrast the emotions
Bird shooting season
of the men vs the women- excitement vs discontent. As
a result, Senior’s gender roles are sharply defined in her
poem and there is the strong sense of patriarchy with
clearly divided gender roles and gender positions.
- Allusion- It is Biblical. The content of the poem
alludes to the story of Mary Magdalene in the Christian
Treatment
Bible who was considered an adulteress. Men caught her
of/Attitude
Towards a roughed her up but still justifying their intentions
“she's felt men's hands, greedy over her body, but ours
Women
were virtuous, of course” if a man touches a woman's
body without her permission how can he be virtuous.
A Stone’s Throw The woman aka Mary Magdalene was scared because
she knew the fate she was about to have and obviously
she was just assaulted. But a 'preacher, god merchant,'
aka Jesus squatted down to her level and writing in the
dust and looked at her. Then he turned to them and said
he who is free of sin shall cast the first stone and that's
when their eyes were on themselves and they saw that
they weren't as sinless as they had thought.
Mood, Tone, Perspective and Type of Poem

Type of Point of View

Poem Mood Tone
Poem Perspective
Sonnet Composed
Upon Westminster Italian Sonnet Pensive First Person Awe
Bridge
God’s Grandeur Italian Sonnet Reverence, Gratitude Third Person Grateful, Despairing
Reflective, Thoughtful,
Orchids Free Verse First Person Philosophical
Provoking
South Circular Nostalgic First Person Yearning
Bird shooting
Free Verse Pensive Third Person Conversational
Season
The Woman
Free Verse Pensive Third Person Despair
Speaks…
Dreaming Black Boy Free Verse Reflective First Person Conversational
Theme For English
Free Verse Reflective First Person Sombre
B
Sympathetic,
Little Boy Crying Free Verse Philosophical Third Person Reflective, Tinged
with Humour
My Parents Free Verse Reflective First Person Pensive
It is The Constant
Free Verse Self-Introspection First Person Remorse
Image of Your Face
Test Match Sabina Free Verse Humours, Triumphant First Person Self-Abasement
West Indies USA Free Verse Reflective Third Person Mocking
Regretful, Pleading,
Once Upon a Time Free Verse Sombre, Hopeful Frist Person
Cynical
Dramatic
Ol Higue Reflective First Person Bitter
Monologue
Condemnation,
A Stone’s Throw Free Verse Outrage, Introspection First Person
Self-Righteous
This is the Dark Passionate,
Free Verse Sadness, Oppression Third Person
Time My Love Seriousness
Dulce Et Decorum Disturbing, Deeply Distressed,
Free Verse First Person
Est Introspective Sarcastic
An African
Free Verse Restless Third Person Sombre, Ominous
Thunderstorm
Reflection from a
Mirror Free Verse Melancholy Bitter, Depressing
1st Person