PoetryBase/Poetry Gnosis Home   Mission Statement   Frequently Asked Questions   Poetic Forms Listing   Poetic Tips Listing   The Gnostic Poet's Discourses   Poetry-Related Reviews   Letters to a Young Writer   Site Change Log

Use classical or current allusions.

When first her beauty met my eyes,
Cupid’s arrow found my breast.
With time and knowledge, I did realize,
Though packed in beauty, she was a pest!

Variety is the spice of life, and allusions give you other ways to say the same old thing. If you are writing for a general audience, it may not pay to get into too much classical allusion. Stick with associations that are well known. Cupid and love is an excellent one. You can also make new allusions to the gods of today’s pop culture. References to singers or sports stars can bring instant recognition in a wide audience. Not only do allusions allow for variety, but they also offer compactness through shared experience. Rather than strictly mythological characters and pop icons, one could also allude to other items of shared experience. For instance:

She floated with the subtle grace of a Hail Mary pass.
And as she passed in front of me, I got a look at her...

 
Status: Complete

 

To contact us, e-mail thegnosticpoet@poetrybase.info.
Copyright © 2001-2015 by Charles L. Weatherford. All rights reserved.