Lesson 1 Figurative Language Assignment

This is the poem I would be working on:

A Birthday Poem by Ted Kooser

Just past dawn, the sun stands
with its heavy red head
in a black stanchion of trees,
waiting for someone to come
with his bucket
for the foamy white light,
and then a long day in the pasture.
I too spend my days grazing,
feasting on every green moment
till darkness calls,
and with the others
I walk away into the night,
swinging the little tin bell
of my name.

Figurative language are widely used in this particular poem.Figurative language have already been used in the first 2 lines of the poem.The phrases" sun stands with its heavy red head" is personification.Personification implies giving an object abstract ideas of a human quality,generally. In this particular example, a sun is a star.A star is being related to having a "heavy red head",which indicates the usage of a non-human object being related to specific human qualities.This is the usage of personification.
As seen in the phrases " come with his bucket",this implies the usage of a metaphor.A metaphor means directly comparing seemingly unrelated objects to the poem,without using words such as "and"or"as". In this poem,the word "bucket" is related to the word "sun".As we all know,it is common knowledge that a human object is totally unrelated to a massive ball of energy in vast space,a star.However,the words"for" and "light" in the poem suggest a figurative relationship between the "Sun" and the "Bucket":The bucket is here to collect light given out from the sun to allow the night to take over.This creates an image in the reader's mind,giving them a clearer understanding of the events happening in the poem. Moreover,there is also another usage of figurative language hidden in this sentences.Symbolism occurs when these 2 words"night" and "bucket" appears.Symbolism means using a representative figure to carry the additional meaning often verooked by readers. As everyone knows,a bucket can only contain an average amount of liquid or an average size object,unlike a cement mixer.The hidden relationship between the words "bucket","light","night".A bucket,being an average sized container,scoops light up bit by bit.Similiar to the night,night approaches slowly,devouring the light;Lesser light is received from the sun as night creeps slowly.I guess you can see the symbolic relation ship between these three words now.
Moreover,the usage of hyperbole occurs as the poem reaches its definite end.Hyperbole is and exxagerated statement in poetry,being used to invoke an emotion in the reader,thus emphasising the theme of this poem.The words "feasting","grazing","walking away","swinging" and "bell" indicates the usage of hyperbole.These words invoke a sense of,sort of a type of laziness.The reader would have similiar emotions to the cow in the poem,having the same routine day by day till night approaches.Nothing can be done to change this routine and the them of this poem,"laziness"is emphasised.

Why do I like this poem?
This poem is an excellent poem.For starters,the usage of 3 types of figurative language,hyperbole,personification and symbolism gives the reader a full insight to what is really happening in the poem and clearly understand the surface below;the hidden meanings.By reading this poem,the reader would understand how to appreciate the fact that hidden meanings concealed beneath the surface gives the reader a taste of a slice of life.The theme of the poem is simililar to the scenes of everything life:Avoiding the jam on the road,seated in office after an uncalled frenzy.

Word Count for my reflections on why I like this poem:
100 words