A Short Critique of an Amateur’s Poem

“Inside” is a poem written by Melissa Collette, a teenage amateur poet. The poem is about a girl getting over a break-up with her boyfriend, yet her feelings are trapped inside her. Collette creates an emotional and sad tone by using techniques such as rhyme, diction, and figurative language.

The first Technique to be discussed is the rhyme scheme throughout the poem. There is an ABAB pattern in each four-line verse. Words like “eyes” and “lies” rhyme easily, but a few verses contain slant rhymes. To illustrate, “linger” and “happier” do not rhyme as simply, which keeps the pattern from being too mechanical or predictable. Thus, the rhyme scheme contributes to the emotional tone by making the poem accessible to the reader.

A second technique is the diction in the poem. The author uses strong, emotional words to convey the speaker’s feelings. Words such as “linger,” “cherish,” “trapped,” and “hurting” add to the sorrowful tone by being powerful and impassioned.

Finally, the use of figurative language is another important technique used in this poem. Lines such as, “Bottled up inside,” and “You can see it in my eyes, / Read it on my face,” are good examples of some of the figurative language in

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the poem. This language creates a visual picture for the reader, and connects to the tone by using simple examples in which are easily understood.

Breaking up with someone is a difficult experience and Melissa Collette illustrated it very well in her poem. Rhyme, diction, and figurative language were techniques that Collette used to give her poem the emotional and sad tone. Despite the depressing tone, Collette offers hope at the poem’s end with the lines, “Everything will turn out all right,” and, “So I have to set him free.” These lines seem to express the speaker’s desire to begin the next experiences in her life, and leave the reader with a positive feeling.

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