- The speaker of this poem is A) a mother B) a son C) a father D) unidentified 2 - The poet's choice of language in this poem is used primarily to develop A) the conflict between the son and society B) the character of the mother C) the conflict between mother and son D) the character of the son 3 - The primary literary device used by the poet throughout this poem is A) simile B) personification C) metaphor D) analogy