I need help find the things like alliteration, rhyme, rhythm, etc., in this poem! Please help, if not, thanks I guess.
Grandma Ling
By Amy Ling
If you dig that hole deep enough
you’ll reach China, they used to tell me,
a child in a backyard to dig that hole,
I waited twenty years,
then sailed back, half way around the world.
In Taiwan I first met Grandma.
Before she came to view, I heard
her slippered feet softly measure
the tatami floor with even step;
the aqua paper-covered door slide open
and there I faced
my five foot height, sturdy legs and feet,
square forehead, high cheeks, and wide-set eyes;
my image stood before me,
acted on by fifty years.
She smiled, stretched her arms
to take to heart the eldest daughter
of her youngest son a quarter century away.
She spoke a tongue I knew no word of,
and I was sad I could not understand,
but I could hug her.
https://literary-devices.com/
The list at the left includes links to the most commonly used literary devices.
I hear no rhyme or rhythm in this poem.
I do see a great deal of imagery and allusion.
To find the elements such as alliteration, rhyme, and rhythm in a poem, we can analyze the text and look for patterns and repetitions. Here's how you can approach this:
1. Reading the poem: Start by reading the poem and familiarizing yourself with its theme and content.
2. Alliteration: Alliteration refers to the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words. Look for words in the poem that begin with the same consonant sound. For example, in the poem:
- "Grandma Ling" repeats the "L" sound in both words.
- "slippered feet softly" repeats the "s" sound.
3. Rhyme: Rhyme refers to the repetition of similar sounds between words, often at the end of lines. Scan the poem for words that have similar end sounds.
In this particular poem, there is no noticeable rhyme scheme or regular end rhyme observed. However, you may still find some internal rhyme or partial rhyme within lines or between adjacent words if you pay close attention.
4. Rhythm: Rhythm in poetry refers to the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables or the overall flow of the poem. To identify the rhythm, you can read the poem aloud and listen for patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables.
In "Grandma Ling" by Amy Ling, the poem does not follow a specific meter and has a varied rhythm. However, the following lines demonstrate a rhythmic pattern with stressed and unstressed syllables:
- "If you dig that hole deep enough"
- "then sailed back, half way around the world"
- "her slippered feet softly measure"
Remember, not all poems follow a strict pattern of alliteration, rhyme, or rhythm. They can vary in their structure and use of poetic devices. It's essential to analyze each individual poem and determine its unique qualities.