The Speaker

The speaker in "Night Bird" argues that making metaphors is not always necessary. Sometimes, things can be understood and appreciated just as they are. For example, "thunder is just thunder" and "the dog barking is only a dog" (1-2). In this way, the speaker resists the traditional figurative language closely associated with poetry. By not inserting any personal meanings onto things, the speaker aims to see things in their own right.

The Speaker's Nephew

The speaker shares an anecdote about her young nephew playing with a toy ship. In his game, he sinks the ship and tries to save the captain. It is not specified how old the speaker's nephew is, but the speaker implies that her nephew was young at the time of the story. Many children engage in imaginative play beginning at two years old until around the age of seven.

The Nephew's Therapist

While...