Outside the door, / lurking in the shadows, / is a terrorist.
-- Speaker (Lines 1-3)

Importance: The poem's opening lines create shock value particularly with the word "terrorist." The action of lurking suggests illicit and unpleasant activity, and shadows symbolize fear of the unknown. Dharker purposely uses an inflammatory word such as "terrorist" to cause a strong reaction in the reader.

Is that the wrong description?
-- Speaker (Line 4)

Importance: After the speaker calls the person outside her home "a terrorist," she immediately questions her first impression. This demonstrates her uncertainty and, even more significantly, her willingness to change her mind. A pattern of judging and revising the previous judgement ensues.

Are words no more / than waving, wavering flags?
-- Speaker (Lines 11-12)

Importance: Here, the speaker's faith in language begins to slip into doubt. The word "waving" signifies a repetitive back and forth movement, but it easily turns into "wavering," which connotes a faltering. Sonically, these words are quite similar (with just the addition...