David Earle Birney Summary

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In the poem “David” by Earle Birney there are a few themes. The major theme in the poem is life and death. For starters, the tone in the poem is a very bitter one, especially when David asks Bob to push him off the cliff. Furthermore, the poem is written in free verse style and often uses imagery in its description. The poems use of figurative language and poetic devices are used to create tension, complication and emotion. What makes this poem serious is the fact the verses in this poem do not follow the same rhyming scheme. The poem uses imagery with symbolism to help paint a better picture. For example, in contemplating killing the bird that has a broken wing, Birney shows that everyone is capable of getting hurt. Plus when David kills the

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