Don’t you just love how when you are in grade eight and you write something like: I went to the store and brought milk and egg and cheese—and your told it is incorrect?

We are giving all kinds of literary devices and at first you can’t find usage for them. Unless you are a writer, you probably would never remember them, or you’ll use them but won’t know the term and the reason why you used it.

To make your writing more exciting and create more diversity, use asyndeton and polysyndeton. They’re usually used to create a dramatic effect.

Asyndeton is a list of words or phrases or clauses which does NOT use conjunctions, often resulting in a hurried rhythm or vehement effect.

 Examples:

 My heart breaks into two every time I meet his smile, his touch, his laugh, his love. (Me)

 Her lips, her hair, her eyes, her skin drew gentle sighs from her lover’s heart. (English Teacher)

 This is the villain among you who deceived you, who cheated you, who meant to betray you completely. (Aristotle)

 Polysyndeton, on the other hand is used to create a slow, empathic rhythm. This device stresses equally each member in a series/ the items in the series are joined by a coordinator, such as and, but, or, nor, for, so.

 Examples:

On the other side of the moon lies menacing shadows of demonic creatures and standing in opposition with the sun, the moon sulks and calls with beady lushes and its hungry glares and luminous eyes shine with mischief as it beckons that hidden glimpse of debauchery inside all of us. (Me)

 She then got up from the table and went to the telephone and looked the number up and called the school and got the drama teacher and identified herself and told him that her daughter wouldn’t be coming to school that night. (The Rake)

i dreamt i was a flower once.

you came and laid beside me on a warm spring day
the breeze caused me to sway gently in the field.
i called to you and though your ear was right beside my face
you could not understand our secret language -
the language of nature.

i called to you and though you could not understand my words
you looked at me and smiled.

i dreamt i was a flower once.

you came and had lunch nearby on a hot summer’s afternoon
you had a dog and when i called, she came to me instead.
i was afraid that she’d eat me or dig a hole in my home
but she just sniffed me and went away.

i called to you but only she could understand my words.

i dreamt i was a flower once.

you came again to our field and sat beneath the wise old oak
who tells us bedime stories, as each night the westward sun sets a little earlier.
i called to you and you looked over.
i called to you and you stood up.

i called to you and you plucked me
from between the browning blades of grass.

i died that night but i died fulfilled,
my purple imperceptibly fading
as you brought me to your face
and placed me behind your ear.

and finally,
i am something useful.

I looked around the apartment.

My soul was stuck in a bitter turmoil;

For the place looked exactly like I had pictured.

I stared at Derek.

 

“What are you doing here?”

He asked me. I looked at him and asked

“Shouldn’t that be my question?”

He arched one of his eyebrows.

 

“I want you to know that when you get home,

Package your things and leave.”

He looked surprised at my command,

As if I would allow a cheating man to remain with me.

 

“I will send you the divorce papers,

And you can have whatever you want,

I just want the apartment and left alone.”

I watched him take a seat.

 

“Sit down!”

He said it softly but I heard the clenching threat and demand

In his voice and the ticks in his cheeks.

I sat down.

 

“You have known me for ten yes and

Now you decide you want to divorce

Me without a reason.”

I thought he was joking until I looked at his face.

 

“Derek, I saw you!”

I said quietly for I wasn’t sure what was happening anymore.

Why would he try to deny something I saw?

He got up and slammed his fist into the kitchen wall.

 

“You ungrateful little bitch!”

I was bit thrown back for this was the first

Time I ever heard Derek curse.

My heart crack wider than the wall.

 

“I did all of this for you and this is what I get?”

He wasn’t done.

“I worked late each night; came here to work;

So I can buy you this fucking apartment!”

 

He wasn’t done.

“This is how you repay me,

You untruthful little bitch”

I stood up.

 

“Sit down!”

He pushed me back on the couch.

The cushions were the only comfort I got.

“All of this for you and you accuse me of cheating.”

 

“I saw you!”

I cried out.

“I saw you smiling, laughing, she had a ring on.

And this is my apartment! I wanted it first!”

 

I knew I sounded like a baby.

I could have slept with my shame

For a lifetime never even come

Close to the regret living inside of me.

 

“You saw me! Yes you saw me doing all

those things. Where is your trust that you

promise me long ago? Have I ever giving you

any reasons to doubt me?”

 

I didn’t say a word. I didn’t have an answer

That wouldn’t sound childish;

That wouldn’t sound ignorant;

That wouldn’t sound insignificant.

 

Shame was boiling inside of me

For I knew that the trust that was built

Over ten years was crumbling to pieces

When I first doubted Derek.

 

Two months, three days, five hours, and twenty seconds-

I watched Derek gave one white lie.

At the time if I had talked to him

I would have known the reasons.

 

Instead I found myself brooding

About the reasons behind the lie

Instead of the lie he actually told.

I cried.

 

“I want you to go home, pack your stuff

And leave. You can stay here, since

It’s the apartment you wanted-

I will send for you when I am ready.”

 

I didn’t beg.

I got up and walked out the door.

I was please for what was left of the night

Covered my agony and disgrace.

 

Once again, I blended myself with the night

Hoping to fight some of my shame off.

I tried walking backward.

Maybe reencounter the stolen love and peace we used to have.

 

What was done was done.

I didn’t know if Derek would forgive me

For the thin line of trust

Between Derek and I has been breached.

 

Where did we move on from all things broken?

When he will doubt whatever I say

And I will doubt rather he believed what I said.

The future will not show itself to me.

 

I heard the truth.

I heard the wind.

I heard the darkness.

If only I hadn’t read between the lines.

 

A stillness of silence

a precursor—

summoning violence.

A young child’s cry

bombs blasting–

everyone waiting to die, not asking

the question why?

A solitary soldier presses on, marches on

so much pain – he lingers

As people watch, hands outstretched – a silent

shout for joy — open fingers

And he keeps marching on, until his path comes

to an end and with gentle grace

He crouches, he bends

The child is held in the comfort of his arms–

for a moment in time

feeling safe, feeling warm

For out of such destruction, such pain

A kernel of hope can reign again

lifting the mantle of despair –a falling of  new rain.

 

In the comfort of your womb,

I hear your voice,

Beckoning me toward life

 

In the stillness of the morning

I open my eyes to a beautiful sight—

Your face, mother

 

Filled with love and grace,

I feel so cherished that

The Lord has brought me to you.

 

In the years that follow,

I grew in confidence and faith

Guided by your hands, mother

I am completed with

Encouragements and praises

 

Though the years kept going

But you, mother stood still with love

Supporting me with your strength

Blessed—be your name

 

And now that I am older with kids

Of my own— grandma

You’re needed here

 Our hearts cries for you.

 

A light glows softly, calling you

Arms comforting, surrounding me—

The Lord has called you home

 

I hear you whisper, like a kiss upon my cheek

Telling me you are still here,

I just need to look toward heaven

To find you, and hear you say

 

“I am at peace my child,

home with the Father

 Do not be in despair

for all will be well—

I will always be with you my child”

 

And so I cry, for it’s the only thing to do

To feel your comfort, so you may know

That I miss you so—I need you so

 

 

Your light will never stop shining bright

And your love and values will live on—

For I know that you will always be with me

Mother, may you rest in peace