Aprompt—executive bird is the jay

by emily dickinson

a prompt—executive bird is the jay—
bold as a bailiff's1 hymn—
brittle and brief in quality—
warrant2 in every line—

sitting a bough3 like a brigadier4
confident and straight—
much is the mien5 of him in march
as a magistrate6—

legal officer
legal action
branch of a tree
army officer (british)
appearance
judge

i heard a bird sing

by oliver herford

i heard a bird sing
in the dark of december.
a magical thing
and sweet to remember.

"we are nearer to spring
than we were in september,”
i heard a bird sing
in the dark of december.

review the two poems.

how does the structure compare in both poems?

both poems have two stanzas.

both poems are about birds.

both poems use similes.

both poems use metaphor.

a prompt—executive bird is the jay

by emily dickinson

a prompt—executive bird is the jay—
bold as a bailiff's1 hymn—
brittle and brief in quality—
warrant2 in every line—

sitting a bough3 like a brigadier4
confident and straight—
much is the mien5 of him in march
as a magistrate6—

legal officer
legal action
branch of a tree
army officer (british)
appearance
judge

i heard a bird sing

by oliver herford

i heard a bird sing
in the dark of december.
a magical thing
and sweet to remember.

"we are nearer to spring
than we were in september,"
i heard a bird sing
in the dark of december.

review the two poems. what literary device is used to describe the bird in "a prompt-executive bird is the jay" that is not used in "i heard a bird sing"? (could it be an allusion? ) and you

allusion

metaphor

simile

hyperbole