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A prompt—executive Bird is the Jay

by Emily Dickinson

A prompt—executive Bird is the Jay—
Bold as a Bailiff's1 Hymn—
Brittle and Brief in quality—
Warrant2 in every line—

Sitting a Bough3 like a Brigadier4
Confident and straight—
Much is the mien5 of him in March
As a Magistrate6—

legal officer
legal action
branch of a tree
army officer (British)
appearance
judge

I Heard a Bird Sing

By Oliver Herford

I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December.
A magical thing
And sweet to remember.

"We are nearer to Spring
Than we were in September,”
I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December.

Review the two poems. What literary device is used in "I Heard a Bird Sing" that is not used in "A prompt—executive Bird is the Jay"?

Dramatic irony
Foreshadowing
Repetition
Simile

User Tarydon
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1 Answer

20 votes
20 votes
A prompt isn’t the answer
User Agop
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