Final answer:
A poet uses a metaphor to compare two unlike things, suggesting that one is the other to express a more complex or nuanced idea. Metaphors are essential in a poem as they can evoke emotions, create vivid imagery, and enhance the understanding of abstract concepts. Laura Kasischke's poem 'Confections' is a notable example that plays with the literal and figurative use of language.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a poet uses a metaphor in a poem, they are drawing a comparison between two different things, suggesting that one thing is the other in order to convey a deeper meaning or to create a picture in the reader's mind. For instance, when Laura Kasischke writes, 'Chaos is a pinch of joy, a bit of screaming,' she's not saying that chaos is literally these things, but rather evoking the sensation and emotional mix that chaos can entail. Poetry often relies on the use of metaphor and other forms of figurative language to make the invisible visible—conveying complex emotions, abstract concepts, and nuanced experiences in a way that grammatical literalness cannot.
The use of metaphor is pervasive in language and thought, structuring our understanding of abstract areas of experience. As we see in Kasischke's poem 'Confections,' the poet plays with the boundaries of literal and figurative language—which can expose the slipperiness of how we interpret sentences. Metaphors are integral in facilitating our cognitive ability to understand and relate to new concepts by equating different things, such as in another common metaphor 'LIFE IS A JOURNEY'.