Simile and metaphor
To make a story or a poem more interesting, a writer often tries to use words to create a picture inside the reader's head.
A simile is when you say that something – a person or place, animal or thing – is LIKE something else. A simile always uses the word ‘as’ or ‘like’. Here are some examples of similes:
"Hicham AL Garrouj runs like the wind."
"Her eyes are like a mirror."
A metaphor makes an even stronger image in the reader's head. When you use a metaphor, you are saying that a person, place, animal or thing IS some thing else (not just LIKE it!). Metaphors are stronger images than similes. They don’t mean exactly what the words say. Here are some examples of metaphors:
"My teacher is a queen."
"Her smile is a shinning sun."
Can you find any similes and metaphors in the following poem ?
Love is like a painting
filled with all colours and shades
love is like a bleeding heart
cut with many sharp blades
love is like a never ending story
that always begins with a kiss
love is like a space everlasting
that fills bitterness with bliss
love is like the circle of eternity
always there to take for free
Love is an open clear pool
where no hate can dare swim
love is a captured sunset
where the warmth never grows dim
love is desire held in the eye
that spreads quickly to the heart
love is a black starry night sky
a metaphor of glorious art
love is a deep dark hole of mystery
always there to take free
