Two roads
in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Robert Frost wrote those words in his poem, “The Road Not Taken.” He described two roads in front of him — and the difficult decision of which to take. But was Frost really writing about two trails? Or was he using figurative language to tell about something else?
World Poetry Day is the perfect time to ask that question. The event happens each year on March 21. UNESCO created World Poetry Day in 1999. The global group said the goal was to celebrate “the unique ability of poetry to capture the creative spirit of the human mind.” And many poets (including Frost) use figurative language to do that.
Figurative language lets a writer find a fun way to say something. It’s a tool to help express emotions. There are different types of figurative language. Three of the biggest ones are similes, metaphors, and personification.
A simile is a comparison using “like” or “as.” Robert Burns uses a simile in his poem, “A Red, Red Rose.” It begins:
O my Luve is like a red, red rose
That’s newly sprung in June;
O my Luve is like the melody
That’s sweetly played in tune.
Metaphors are similar to similes — but somewhat sneakier. They say something is something else, even when it’s not literally true. A metaphor doesn’t use “like” or “as.” Robert Frost may be describing two roads in the woods. But it’s a metaphor for paths you might take in life.
Personification gives human traits to non-human things. Sara Teasdale used this figurative language in her poem, “Summer Night, Riverside.” It begins:
In the wild soft summer darkness
How many and many a night we two together
Sat in the park and watched the Hudson
Wearing her lights like golden
Glinting on black satin.
Teasdale is describing her view of the Hudson River from New York City. She says the river is “wearing” lights like jewelry — but, of course, a real river doesn’t do that. Teasdale uses personification to give the Hudson human-like qualities. Doing that brings the river to life.
A lot of authors also use alliteration. That’s when a series of words start with the same sound. Maybe you’ve seen some sentences in this story that use alliteration. Even the headline has it!
This World Poetry Day, try writing your own poem. Use figurative language to make it sparkle. Remember that poetry doesn’t have to rhyme, and there’s no wrong way to create it. It’s all about expressing yourself and having fun with words. So, let your imagination fly!
Updated March 20, 2024, 5:02 P.M. (ET)
By Russell Kahn (Russ)
