The Colonel (Poem) Essay

The poetry is regularly associated to some kind of talent only. However, methodological basics are also considerable for successful writing, including poetic elements at the first hand. Generally, scholars used to emphasize next of them: Allegory, Alliteration, Denotation and Connotation, Diction, Image, Irony, Metaphor, Symbol etc. The poem “The colonel” by Carolyn Forche’ is useful to analyze the meaning of some of these writing tips in the entire concept of poetic work. Let’s pay attention to image, which seems  to be the strongest used poetic element in analyzed text. First of all, let’s emphasize that image should be defined as poetic element  designed to appeal to our sense of realistic perception. In other words, it the tool to infuse life into the text. This element is valuable to share the atmosphere. The images in “The colonel” were used to convey the environment of fear and tyranny: “Broken bottles were embedded in the walls around the house to scoop the kneecaps from a man’s legs or cut his hands to lace. On the windows there were gratings like those in liquor stores”. The next one was mostly used to share the oppressive sense within the habitat of Colonel: “There were daily papers, pet dogs, a pistol on the cushion beside him. The moon swung bare on its black cord over the house. On the television was a cop show”. At last, let’s remind next words: “He spilled many human ears on the table. They were like dried peach halves. There is no other way to say this”. The sense of fear and oppression are inherent here to. However, this quote can be interpreted multiply. On the one hand, there is no doubt that words were used to appeal to readers sense of realistic perception. On the other hand, the simile, as independent poetic element, also can be outlined in quote. This is the good example to show that poetic elements are close interrelated to each other within the boundaries of the entire purpose of poetic writing.