This document analyzes poetic techniques used in a poem through analyzing specific lines. It identifies techniques such as simile, metaphor, vivid imagery, personification, onomatopoeia, alliteration and repetition. For each technique discussed, it provides the line references, explains the effect of the technique, and includes an image to further illustrate the technique's effect. The overall analysis breaks down how various literary devices are used to create vivid descriptions and representations of experiences like fishing and the natural environment.

3. Lines
3-­‐4:
When
the
sky
is
pink
and
grey/
As
the
wings
of
a
wild
galah
Technique:
Simile
Effect
of
technique:
The
colouring
of
a
galah
is
used
to
describe
what
the
sky
looks
like.
The
sky
is
compared
to
the
wings
of
of
the
native
Australian
bird
to
represent
the
image
MacKellar
has
created.
http://photos.beilby.com/images/
galah.3.jpg
Effect
of
Image:
The
image
portrays
the
colours
of
the
galah
that
are
used
to
describe
the
sky

4. Lines
5-­‐6:
And
the
last
night-­‐shadow
ebbs/
From
the
trees
like
a
falling
tide
Technique:
Simile
Effect
of
technique:
The
shadows
that
still
remain
from
the
night
are
compared
to
the
way
the
ocean
is
sucked
back
in
after
a
wave
crashes
onto
the
sand
http://images.travelpod.com/users/
mistyandmark/1.1260705427.misty-­‐
Effect
of
image:
Image
visualises
the
walks-­‐the-­‐shoreline-­‐just-­‐after-­‐high-­‐
way
the
tide
falls
back
which
tide.jpg
represents
the
last
of
the
night-­‐
shadows
clinging
to
the
trees

5. Lines
7-­‐9:
And
the
dew-­‐hung
spiderwebs/
On
the
grass-­‐blades
spread
far
and
wide/
Each
sharp
spike
well-­‐loaded
Technique:
Vivid
Imagery
Effect
of
technique:
Enables
the
reader
to
mentally
picture
what
is
being
described
by
the
author.
The
author
has
also
used
descriptive
language
to
represent
the
‘grass-­‐
blades’
as
sharp
spikes.
http://farm1.static.flickr.com/
3/3633789_24adc559a5.jpg
Effect
of
image:
Image
portrays
the
spiderwebs
spread
of
the
grass-­‐blades

6. Lines
14-­‐16:
The
horizon
turned
crystal
white/
And
a
sea
of
diamond/
Is
the
plain
to
the
dazzled
sight
Technique:
Metaphor
Effect
of
technique:
The
light
reflected
off
the
horizon
is
described
as
‘crystal
white’
which
is
then
made
clear
by
the
idea
that
resembles
a
sea
of
diamonds.
Effect
of
Image:
The
sun
shining
http://www.eunavfor.eu/wp-­‐content/
uploads/
on
the
sea
represents
the
‘sea
Surcouf_escorts_SEA_DIAMOND_Web.JPG
of
diamond’
that
‘dazzles
sight’

7. Lines
1
&
17:
At
the
dawning
of
the
day
Technique:
Repetition
Effect
of
technique:
The
repetition
of
the
opening
line
of
the
poem
is
also
repeated
in
the
last
stanza
to
emphasise
the
focus
of
the
poem.
Effect
of
Image:
Captures
the
http://
wayshower.typepad.com/.a/
essence
of
the
dawning
of
day
6a0120a68523f8970b015390d29
ef8970b-­‐800wi

9. Lines
13-­‐17:
Perhaps
he
learned
nothing/
from
his
father’s
face
except
how
whiskey/
trawled
sleep
from
his
eyes
and
left
him
pursued/
by
pain
and
thunder
and
a
show
of
lightning’s
/yellow
flares
Technique:
Personification
Effect
of
technique:
The
whiskey
is
given
human-­‐
like
qualities
of
stealing
the
sleep
from
the
father’s
eyes
.
Effect
of
Image:
The
lightning
captures
pain
that
the
whiskey
http://images.wikia.com/
dollarschat/images/e/e4/
inflicts
on
the
father.
Lightning.jpg

10. Lines
47-­‐48:
to
the
noise
of
pelicans,
those
bills
clacking/
like
clapperboards,
the
ease
of
routine.
Technique:
Onomatopeoia
Effect
of
technique:
Allows
the
reader
to
imagine
the
sound
of
the
pelicans
‘clacking’
their
bills
open
and
shut.
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_NZNothTK11w/
S9HqaiCWvSI/AAAAAAAABJ4/
nW8QDaNT9bQ/s1600/pelicans2.jpg
Effect
of
image:
Visualises
the
pelicans
causing
a
scene
with
the
noise
of
their
bills.

11. Lines
8-­‐11:
It
could
have
been
the
way
his
father’s
knife
eased
out
the
eyes/
of
so
many
fish
like
spoonfuls
of
compote
that
gave/
him
thoughts
black
as
the
inky
emulsions
of
squid
Technique:
Simile
Effect
of
technique:
Represents
thoughts
the
boy
is
having
while
he
watches
his
father
gut
fish
eyes.
Compares
the
process
the
imager
of
black
squid
ink
http://media-­‐cdn.tripadvisor.com/
media/photo-­‐s/01/8b/e8/5a/squid-­‐
Effect
of
Image:
Image
captures
ink-­‐pasta.jpg
the
comparison
to
the
black
squid
ink.
Image
is
of
pasta
covered
in
squid
ink

12. Lines
22-­‐23:
…the
slow
drip
of
days
revved
up
by
outboards
then
dispelled
by
a
drill
Technique:
Alliteration
Effect
of
technique:
The
repetition
of
consonant
sounds
represents
the
the
slow
pace
of
the
long
days
fishing
http://
criticalmash.files.wordpress.co
Effect
of
image:
Depicts
the
m/2011/03/38975.jpg
slow
pace
of
the
days
by
showing
a
drip
slowly
leaking
from
a
tap

13. Various
lines
throughout
poem
Eg.
Perhaps
it
was
when
he
first
felt
his
shoulder
/roll
an
oar…Perhaps
when
he
felt
the
rod/
pull
his
arms
through
a
band
of
static
Technique:
Repetition
Effect
of
Technique:
Enables
the
reader
to
be
inquisitive
and
creates
suspense
within
the
poem.
Effect
of
image:
Represents
a
http://
www.davidmoorephotography.com.au/
fisherman
rolling
the
oar
from
media/images/spain/21to28/7.jpg
his
shoulders.
Depicts
a
possible
cause
of
why
a
fisherman
would
end
his
life?