Final answer:
The poetic device used in the line 'Love crosses its islands. From grief to grief' is a metaphor, which compares two different things without using 'like' or 'as'.
Step-by-step explanation:
The poetic device used in the line 'Love crosses its islands. From grief to grief' is a metaphor. A metaphor is a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things by stating one is the other, as opposed to using like or as, which would make it a simile. In this line, love is not literally crossing islands, but rather, it is described as doing so to convey the idea of moving through different stages or episodes of grief—implying that love involves navigating through complex emotional landscapes.
Understanding Metaphors
There are many examples of metaphors in English literature. For instance, expressing love as a journey highlights the ongoing nature of the relationship, while referring to love as combat might reflect its challenges and conflicts. When we look at a line such as 'Love crosses its islands. From grief to grief', we understand that the author is conveying an aspect of the experience of love using the imagery of an island-hopping journey, representing a transition from one emotional state to another.