Poems+for+Reference

Use these poems as reference for use of literary devices and form

//The Red Wheelbarrow// by William Carlos Williams

so much depends upon

a red wheel barrow

glazed with rain water

beside the white chickens.

This poem is very strong in imagery, despite how short it is. The word choice is also perfect. All the words are very simple: common and one or two syllables. The word that stands out the most is "glazed". This word could have been replaced with many other synonyms: coated, covered, drenched...but the resulting imagery is exactly what Williams intended. (I think of a glazed donut - just a thin, shining layer of water)

//Dreams// by Langston Hughes

Hold fast to dreams For if dreams die <span style="color: #00a2ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Life is a broken-winged bird <span style="color: #00a2ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">That cannot fly.

<span style="color: #00a2ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Hold fast to dreams <span style="color: #00a2ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">For when dreams go <span style="color: #00a2ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Life is a barren field <span style="color: #00a2ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Frozen with snow.

<span style="color: #00a2ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">This poem also uses some imagery, but depends more on the personification of dreams (dying, leaving), the metaphors for life (a bird, a field), and symbolism (broken-winged=crippled, impaired; barren field=unfruitful. Without dreams, life would not be fully experienced). The repetition of the first line in each stanza, as well as the similar structure of each of the other lines, helps to hold the poem together.

<span style="color: #0052ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">//maggie and milly and molly and may// <span style="color: #0052ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">by e. e. cummings

<span style="color: #0052ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">maggie and milly and molly and may <span style="color: #0052ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">went down to the beach (to play one day)

<span style="color: #0052ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">and maggie discovered a shell that sang <span style="color: #0052ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">so sweetly she couldn't remember her troubles, and

<span style="color: #0052ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">milly befriended a stranded star <span style="color: #0052ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">whose rays five languid fingers were;

<span style="color: #0052ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">and molly was chased by a horrible thing <span style="color: #0052ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">which raced sideways while blowing bubbles: and

<span style="color: #0052ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">may came home with a smooth round stone <span style="color: #0052ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">as small as a world and as large as alone.

<span style="color: #0052ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">For whatever we lose (like a you or a me) <span style="color: #0052ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">It's always ourselves we find in the sea.

<span style="color: #0052ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">This poem is very strong on alliteration, as well as assonance and consonance. It also starts and ends with a very strong rhythm and rhyme scheme, but once you get to the middle, it briefly disappears. e. e. cummings also takes liberties with capitalization, spacing, and punctuation (less so in this poem), which adds character to his pieces. You'll notice that none of these get in the way of the meaning or reading of the poem.

<span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">//The Jabberwocky// <span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">by Lewis Carroll

<span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;">'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves <span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;"> Did gyre and gimble in the wabe; <span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;"> All mimsy were the borogoves, <span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;"> And the mome raths outgrabe.

<span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;"> "Beware the Jabberwock, my son! <span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;"> The jaws that bite, the claws that catch! <span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;"> Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun <span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;"> The frumious Bandersnatch!"

<span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;"> He took his vorpal sword in hand: <span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;"> Long time the manxome foe he sought-- <span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;"> So rested he by the Tumtum tree, <span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;"> And stood awhile in thought.

<span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;"> And as in uffish thought he stood, <span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;"> The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame, <span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;"> Came whiffling through the tulgey wood, <span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;"> And burbled as it came!

<span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;"> One, two! One, two! and through and through <span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;"> The vorpal blade went snicker-snack! <span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;"> He left it dead, and with its head <span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;"> He went galumphing back.

<span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;"> "And hast thou slain the Jabberwock? <span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;"> Come to my arms, my beamish boy! <span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;"> O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!" <span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;"> He chortled in his joy.

<span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;"> 'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves <span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;"> Did gyre and gimble in the wabe; <span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;"> All mimsy were the borogoves, <span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;"> And the mome raths outgrabe.

<span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;">While many of the words used are nonsense, they create a very smooth line (try reading a few stanzas aloud and see how they roll off the tongue). You can also gather context clues and infer what Carroll might mean. He also uses a very standard rhythm and an ABCB rhyme scheme for each stanza. This shows how creative you can be while still following a stricter form.

<span style="color: #0000d1; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 16px;">

<span style="color: #6f00ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">//Umbrella// <span style="color: #6f00ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">Performed by Rihanna

<span style="color: #6f00ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: normal;">You have my heart And we'll never be worlds apart May be in magazines But you'll still be my star Baby cause in the dark You can't see shiny cars And that's when you need me there With you I'll always share Because

When the sun shines, we'll shine together Told you I'll be here forever Said I'll always be a friend Took an oath I'ma stick it out till the end Now that it's raining more than ever Know that we'll still have each other You can stand under my umbrella You can stand under my umbrella

These fancy things, will never come in between You're part of my entity, here for Infinity When the war has took its part When the world has dealt its cards If the hand is hard, together we'll mend your heart Because

When the sun shines, we'll shine together Told you I'll be here forever Said I'll always be a friend Took an oath I'ma stick it out till the end Now that it's raining more than ever Know that we'll still have each other You can stand under my umbrella You can stand under my umbrella

You can run into my arms It's OK don't be alarmed Come here to me There's no distance in between our love So go on and let the rain pour I'll be all you need and more Because

When the sun shines, we'll shine together Told you I'll be here forever Said I'll always be a friend Took an oath I'ma stick it out till the end Now that it's raining more than ever Know that we'll still have each other You can stand under my umbrella You can stand under my umbrella

<span style="color: #6f00ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">This song is very strong in internal rhyme, end rhyme, assonance, and consonance. The internal rhyme feels clever because it seems like one word morphs into the other. While this song is not particularly about imagery, the symbolism makes the entire piece (which is why I like it). It's not about a literal umbrella. What Rihanna is saying is that whenever her friend falls on hard times, he can count on her for support and she will help protect him. <span style="color: #6f00ff; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">//Meet Virginia// <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">by Train

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; line-height: normal;">She doesn't own a dress Her hair is always a mess, You catch her stealin' she won't confess She's Beautiful.

Smokes a pack a day, but wait, That's me, but anyway She doesn't care a thing About that hair, She thinks I'm beautiful Meet Virginia

She never comprimises, Loves babies and surprises, wears high heels when she exercises Ain't it beautiful Meet Virginia

Well she wants to be the Queen Then she thinks about her scene Pulls her hair back as she screams "I don't really wanna be the Queen"

Daddy wrestles alligators Mama works on carborators Her brother is a fine mediator For the president And here she is again on the phone just like me hates to be alone we just like to sit at home and rip on the President Meet Virginia

Well she wants to live her life Then she thinks about her life Pulls her hair back, as she screams "I don't really wanna live this life"

She only drinks coffee at midnight When the moment is not right Her timing is quite unusual You see her confidence is tragic, <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; line-height: normal;">but her intuition magic. <span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; line-height: normal;">And the shape of her body? Unusual

Meet Virginia I can't wait to Meet Virginia

Well she wants to be the queen and then she thinks about her scene Well she wants to live her life then she thinks about her life Pulls her hair back as she screams "I don't really wanna be the queen"

<span style="color: #008080; font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif;">This song relies heavily on repetition and variation. The words "beautiful" and "unusual" are repeated (and also sound distantly related), as well as the bulk of the refrain and the phrase "Meet Virginia".