Flamingo Poetry
Keeping Quiet
Poetic Devices
Alliteration - The repetition of usually initial consonant sounds in two or more neighbouring words or syllables.
- Now we will count to twelve
- and we will all keep still
- we would all be together
- in a sudden strangeness
- would look at his hurt hands
- wars with gas, wars with fire
- would put on clean clothes
- If we were not so single-minded
- Now I'll count up to twelve
Assonance - The repetition of similar vowel sounds takes place in two or more words in proximity to each other within a line of poetry or prose.
- Now we will count to twelve (Prominent sound of 'o' and 'e').
- and not move our arms so much. (Prominent sound of 'o').
- victory with no survivors,
would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their
brothers
(Prominent sound of 'o').
Antithesis - It is a figure of speech that places two completely contrasting ideas or clauses next to one another.
- Now we will count to twelve and we will all keep still.
- as when everything seems dead and later proves to be alive.
Repetition - Repetition is when a single word or phrase is used multiple times in short succession to secure emphasis.
- Now we will count to twelve and we will all keep still.
- without rush, without engines
- wars with gas, wars with fire,
Anaphora - Anaphora is repeating a sequence of words at the beginnings of neighbouring clauses, thereby lending them emphasis.
- let's not speak in any language, let's stop for one second,
Pun - A pun is a figure of speech that plays with words that have multiple meanings, or that plays with words that sound similar but mean different things.
- and not move our arms so much. (The word 'arms' could mean weapons and could also mean upper limb).
Symbolism - The use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities, by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense.
- Now we will count to twelve (The number twelve symbolises twelve hours of the day or twelve months of the year).
- Fishermen in the cold sea would not harm whales (Fishermen and whales represent the oppressor and the oppressed respectively).
- Those who prepare green wars, wars with gas, wars with fire, (Green wars symbolise the environmental deterioration caused by human activities, wars with gas refer to the increasing pollution and wars with fire represent different wars which employ the use of nuclear weapons and explosives that cause massive destruction).
- and walk about with their
brothers ('Brothers' symbolises universal brotherhood and unity).
Transferred epithet - Transferred epithet is when an adjective usually used to describe one thing is transferred to another. An epithet is a word or phrase which describes the main quality of someone or something.
- Fishermen in the cold sea (It's the fishermen who are so cold that they do not feel any emotions while harming the whales).
Metaphor - A metaphor is a comparison between two things that states one thing is another in order to help explain an idea or show hidden similarities.
- would put on clean clothes (Clean clothes are compared to a new perspective or outlook).
- in the shade, doing nothing. (The shade here refers to protection).
Personification - It is a poetic device where animals, plants or even inanimate objects, are given human qualities.
- Perhaps the Earth can teach us
Imagery - The use of figurative language to evoke a sensory experience or create a picture with words for a reader.
- Fishermen in the cold sea
would not harm whales
and the man gathering salt
would look at his hurt hands.
Enjambment - Enjambment is when a line of poetry carries its idea or thought over to the next line without a grammatical pause.
- Now we will count to twelve and we will all keep still.
- For once on the face of the Earth
let's not speak in any language, - It would be an exotic moment
without rush, without engines, - we would all be together
in a sudden strangeness. - Fishermen in the cold sea
would not harm whales
and the man gathering salt
would look at his hurt hands. - would put on clean clothes
and walk about with their
brothers
in the shade, doing nothing. - What I want should not be confused
with total inactivity. - If we were not so single-minded
about keeping our lives moving, - perhaps a huge silence
might interrupt this sadness
of never understanding ourselves
and of threatening ourselves with
death. - Perhaps the Earth can teach us
as when everything seems dead
and later proves to be alive. - Now I'll count up to twelve
and you keep quiet and I will go.