Most of us learned that Similes were comparisons using the words like or as by second or third grade, so thats all well say on that section of our Imagery toolbox.
Unless youve studied Poetry or Writing further, you may not be as familiar with the Metaphor or Poetry thread (aka extended Metaphor).
Metaphor
In life, as in baseball, we must leave the dugout of complacency, step up to the home plate of opportunity, adjust the protective groin cup of caution and swing the bat of hope at the curve ball of fate, hoping that we can hit a line drive of success past the shortstop of misfortune, then sprint down the base path of chan ce, knowing that at any moment we may pull the hamstring muscle of inadequacy and fall face-first onto the field of failure, where the chinch bugs of broken dreams will crawl into our nose.
-- Dave Barry
Above is a quote overflowing with Metaphor. Even though he goes overboard for comedic effect, they are all fine examples of what a Metaphor is.
Perfecting your use of Metaphor is essential to Writing in general, but in creating Poetry it is imperative. A creative Metaphor in a poem makes it sing like the angels and a poor one, or none at, all could have your poem falling flat and off key.
Example:
In life, as in baseball, we must leave the dugout of complacency (Dave Barry)
OR
You cant stay in the dugout even though its nice and youre happy there
Why use a Meta phor, why not just say it like it is?
Well you could, and that might be your personal Writing style, but a Metaphor takes your reader on a tantalizing journey, riding your words as if theyre on the Orient Express. With it, you offer a bountiful feast for the eyes and the imagination rather than having a grilled cheese in a closet. Most readers enjoy using their minds like a tongue wrapping it around your poem relishing the exploration in the taste of it all.
Weave a Deeper Meaning With Poetry Threads
A Poetry thread, also known as an extended Metaphor, takes a single Metaphor and stretches it through a large section of, or t he entire poem.
Imagine your poem is a quilt. Each square of fabric is a word and the stitches that hold them all together are your extended Metaphor. This thread gently tugs your reader along through your piece and creates a deeper meaning and a more vivid picture within their mind
Start with a simple Metaphor, lets go with your puppy is a vehicle. Now here is an example of extending that Metaphor:
My puppy is a car
that drives me quite insane.
When Im ready for the parking garage
Hes revving for a freeway lane.
His engines roar whenever
he wants to go for a romp.
He races right on over me
before I can holler, STOP!
Notice how Ive taken the Metaphor and expanded on it? Ive taken elements of driving (i.e. Parking garage, revving, engines, races, and freeway lane) and show the reader how on earth my puppy is a car.
Ive used a silly example because theyre fun, but it works equally well in more serious Poetry or even essays, fiction and more.
Whether you wrap your reader in a comforter, family heirloom quilt or itchy wool blanket, youve given them another dimension with which to embrace your work.
2006 Holly Bliss. All Rights Reserved. This document may be freely redistributed in its unedited form and on the condition that all copyright references are kept intact along with the hyperlinked URLs.
About the Author: Using her Writing as paint on the canvas of her life, Holly Bliss is an eclectic writer, newsletter editor and an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Creative Writers.
Author:: Holly Bliss
Keywords:: Simile, Metaphor, extended Metaphor, Poetry threads, Writing, Authoring, Imagery, Tools, Poet, Poetr
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