Metaphors and Similes, by Joey Meffen

Poems are metaphors
for our inner thoughts.
Some minds are just oars,
while others are yachts.

But others like similes,
which are easier to be done.
Similes are like poems
in that I just wrote one.

These two quatrains are a little look into similes and metaphors. They use a rhyme scheme of ABAB CDCD.
This poem, obviously, uses similes and metaphors.

Stones, by Joey Meffen

I load stones down by the fair.
It pays well but I must be aware.
If I do not I will stare
into the cold heart of despair.

The rocks go quickly, one by one.
Before too long I've done a ton.
And by the time that I am done,
5 hours past till I have won.

I do not feel the days go past.
I load the stones until the last.
It feels like I go so very fast,
but it took me 5 years to build that rocky mass.

I cannot leave, for I am not done.
I cannot leave, for I have not won.
The rocks go past, one by one
until I have loaded over a ton.


   This free verse poem is about a man who loads rocks, and is amazed at how quickly the time goes by. He seems to want to leave, but he cannot until he has finished, and that time will likely never come. This poem has 4 quartets with a rhyme scheme of AAAABBBBCCCCBBBB. This poem has an example of assonance (I load stones, Stanza 1, Line 1).

Chairs, by Joey Meffen

Sitting on the ground,
bearing all of our burdens.
Silently, they weep.


   This haiku is about the plight of an average chair, having no purpose than to hold us up when we are tired. It has the standard build of a haiku, with three lines and a 5-7-5 syllable pattern. This poem has personification (chairs do not weep).

Alliteration, by Joey Meffen

Five fickle fairies may flip for a fly,
and whale watchers may want for a why.
But big-boned bald beggars
checking cheaters in checkers
hate alliteration so now I must die.


This poem is about alliteration, and isn't one to be taken seriously. It is a mostly silly and nonsensical limerick. It has a typical limerick rhyme scheme of AABBA, but an incorrect number of syllables. This poem has alliteration, obviously, and imagery (big-boned bald beggars, Line 3).

Flying Through The Air, by Joey Meffen

Flying through the air,
free as a bird.
No-one there to silence impair
with annoying sounds or an ill-placed word.
Flying through the air,
having so much fun.
No-one there to silence impair,
right now I'm the only one.
Flying through the air,
alarm lights flashing bright.
No-one there to silence impair,
fuel tanks damaged, I see the light.
Falling through the air,
no-one there to silence impair.

This poem is about someone flying in a plane alone and enjoying his solitude, until his plane is damaged and he starts falling out of the sky. It is an English sonnet, and has the proper ABABCDCDEFEFGG rhyme scheme to match. This poem has symbolism (the plane is a symbol representing the person's

 life, alone with no-one to save it when it gets in trouble), an allusion (I see the light, Line 12) and a simile (free as a bird, Line 2).

Sonnet on the Sonnets on the Sonnet, by Jonathan Robin

Some sonnets upon sonnets poets write
Offering examples of their skill,
Need neither censure nor false praise to fill
New chapter, verse, in ego's copyright.
Encapsulation through a structure tight
Turns a neat phrase avoiding overkill,
Or temperature tests, unbiased will
Nature, Man, describes in terms polite.
Sense and/or sensitivity, insight
Ordered, bordered, mission may fulfill,
New bark on old folds sundry thoughts that spill,
Netting beauty, spelling out delight.
Emotions through control find freedom which
Triumph over prose prosaic [p]itch.

This is an interesting sonnet, being about poets writing sonnets. The theme is that poets have a great skill that they use to improve their ego (New chapter, verse, in ego's copyright, Line 4). The rhyme scheme is ABBAABBAABBACC. In this poem there are internal rhymes (Ordered, bordered, Line 10, on old folds, Line 11) and alliteration (through control find freedom, Line 13, prose prosaic pitch, Line 14)

Limitation, by Allen Steble

One day far away
When I am old and grey
When I am frail and sore
And my white beard touches the floor
I hope I still find time to play

This limerick is about how age should not be a determining factor in how much fun you have doing things. All you have to do is let yourself have fun. This poem has the typical limerick rhyme scheme of AABBA. This poem has a metaphor (old and grey, he isn't literally grey).

The Guardian, by Kurt

 

 

This poem is abouta snowman guarding a front yard until the Sun comes around. This poem is a concrete poem, with the words forming the shape of the snowman. Interestingly, the words about the hat form the hat, the words about the arms form the arms and so on. This poem has personification (stands guard in our front yard) and a simile (warms passers-by, like a wool scarf).

Death Be Not Proud, by John Donne

Death, be not proud, though some have callèd thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which yet thy pictures be,
Much pleasure, then from thee much more, must low
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones and soul's delivery.
Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings and desperate men
And dost with poison, war and sickness dwell,
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well
And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then ?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; death, thou shalt die.

This poem is about death, and how it is less powerful and more pitiful than we think. The theme of the poem is that death is not something we should fear, as it relies on chance and poor decisions to survive. The poem is one stanza, and 14 lines long, making it a sonnet. The rhyme scheme is ABBAABBACDDCAE. This poem contains alliteration (then from thee much more, must low, Line 6) and alliteration (One short sleep past, Line 13).

A Ballad of Burial, by Rudyard Kipling

If down here I chance to die,
Solemnly I beg you take
All that is left of "I"
To the Hills for old sake's sake,
Pack me very thoroughly
In the ice that used to slake
Pegs I drank when I was dry --
This observe for old sake's sake.

To the railway station hie,
There a single ticket take
For Umballa -- goods-train -- I
Shall not mind delay or shake.
I shall rest contentedly
Spite of clamor coolies make;
Thus in state and dignity
Send me up for old sake's sake.

Next the sleepy Babu wake,
Book a Kalka van "for four."
Few, I think, will care to make
Journeys with me any more
As they used to do of yore.
I shall need a "special" break --
Thing I never took before --
Get me one for old sake's sake.

After that -- arrangements make.
No hotel will take me in,
And a bullock's back would break
'Neath the teak and leaden skin
Tonga ropes are frail and thin,
Or, did I a back-seat take,
In a tonga I might spin, --
Do your best for old sake's sake.

After that -- your work is done.
Recollect a Padre must
Mourn the dear departed one --
Throw the ashes and the dust.
Don't go down at once. I trust
You will find excuse to "snake
Three days' casual on the bust."
Get your fun for old sake's sake.

I could never stand the Plains.
Think of blazing June and May
Think of those September rains
Yearly till the Judgment Day!
I should never rest in peace,
I should sweat and lie awake.
Rail me then, on my decease,
To the Hills for old sake's sake.

This poem is about someone telling another what to do with him/her if and when they die. The theme seems to be about not caring an undue amount about what to do with people after they die, as the instructions are a request rather than a demand. In addition the person talking tells the other not to worry about delays, and afterwards to have some fun. This poem has 6 8 line stanzas, and has a rhyme scheme of ABABCBCB. This poem makes use of allusion (Judgement Day, Stanza 6 Line 4) and personification (I should sweat and lie awake, Stanza 6 Line 6).