poetic device: Metaphor and Simile

Metaphor and simile are techniques that are often used in poetry.

A simile is when one thing is described as being like something else, such as “her smile was as warm the sun” or “my dog is like a jumping bean.” Similes often use the word “as” or “like” to compare one thing to another.

A metaphor, by contrast, is when one thing is described as being something else, such as “her eyes were crystal blue lakes” or “his mood was a winter storm.”

Each of these poems includes at least one metaphor or simile.

A Pug is a Dog

Benjamin Plays Bass Guitar

My Brother’s a Genius

I Had a Little Secret

The Summer Isn’t Like a Book

The Night Santa Claus Came

When Daniel Went Dancing