"The greatest thing by far is to be a master of metaphor." [It is] "a sign of real genius, since a good metaphor implies an intuitive perception of the similarity in dissimilars." Aristotle in Poetics.

Poetry is language that says more than ordinary language. It uses figures of speech. Each figure of speech may suggest several meanings with minimal words. It uses words with strong connotations and these words appeal to the reader's emotions. The language in poetry is strong. The Oxford English Dictionary defines figure of speech as "a word or phrase used in a non-literal sense for rhetorical or vivid effect." Figures of speech add interest and meaning to the way a person speaks. It is a variation from the ordinary fashion of expression for the sake of effect. We need to understand these figures of speech to understand the theme of the poem. Most figures...