Sorting Laundry

Elisavietta Ritchie's poem Sorting Laundry is an extended metaphor. This poem compares sorting laundry to a woman's relationship with a man. Each piece of clothing describes a different aspect of the couple's relationship. Imagery is used to help the reader envision both the clothing and their relationship. "Myriad uncoupled socks which went paired into the foam like those creatures in the ark" (Ritchie, 842). Also, in this quote, we see a simile. Their clothing, and relationship, is now being compares to Noah's ark. Since practically everyone has some idea of this story, this helps the reader to understand more details.

Near the end of the poem, an ellipses marks a shift in mood. The poem started out content and happy with their relationship. However, when the woman recalls a past lover, she begins to fear what would happen if her current man left her.
The overall tone seems to show that she is happy with her lover, even if they have a few problems or fears.

Liquor Never Brewed

Emily Dickinson's poem I Taste a Liquor Never Brewed is one extended metaphor. This metaphor compares alcoholic intoxication to the seasons. Intoxication is like "endless summer days" (Dickinson, 797), This is because the drunkard feels as though the feeling will never end, just as the seasons. The last stanza changes the poem a bit, however.

"Till seraphs swing their snowy Hats, And Saints- to windows run" (797).

The seraphs and the saints give an unexpected attitude of innocence and holiness. This clashes with the overall tone of the poem. By including these images, the poem is given a more light-hearted feeling. Again, I don't really understand the title. Maybe this is her first time drinking. Or possibly, a different feeling after drinking.

The Convergence of the Twain

The poem The Convergence of the Twain is a sad poem by Thomas Hardy that details the sinking of the beloved Titanic. The poem utilizes imagery as its main way of conveying the event to the reader. Hardy describes her stillness and the broken parts of the ship in the water.

"Jewels in Joy designed To ravish the sensuous mind Lie lightless, all their sparkles bleared and black and blind" (Hardy, 778).

This quote shows the reader how beautiful the ship once was and how lifeless she is now. One thing I noticed that I found interesting is the personification. Hardy uses by describing the Titanic as a woman.

"And the Pride of Life that planned her, stilly couches she" (Hardy, 778).

Not only does this quote show hardy's use of personification  but this is my favorite line of the poem. It ties together the workers of the Titanic and the horror of her wreck. Once so full of life, and now useless.

I did not understand the Title at first. Even after looking up the meaning of the words, I still don't understand how it really relates to the poem as a whole.

Batter My Heart

John Donne's Batter my Heart, Three-personed God is a sonnet, once a part of a group called "Holy Sonnets." The speaker is addressing God throughout the sonnet. He uses a seemingly aggressive tone, which, to me, shows disguised fear. The speaker uses parallel lines to convey a message.

"As yet but knock, breath, shine, and seek to mend" (Donne, 840).

"Your force to break, blow, burn, and make me new" (Donne, 840).

These parallel lines allow the reader to see who the speaker is addressing with each verb. Knock and break are representing the Son. This is because we all know Jesus is knocking on our door and also broke the tables in the market. Breath and blow represent The Father. He breathed life into us and blew the storm that caused the flood. Shine and burn address the Holy Spirit. We know the Holy Spirit has appeared to us through the burning bush.