Grief: Structure & Language Techniques

“Grief” Structure

Duffy’s poignant poem “Grief” contains five free-verse stanzas of equal length. This could be seen to reflect equal stages of grief or a sense of control amidst chaos.
The consistent rhyme scheme provides a rhythm and a pace to the poem, encapsulating the forward progression of time and the inevitability of experience.
The symmetry of structure can also be read as a means of suggesting the all-encompassing and universally understood nature of grief.
The use of enjambment throughout the poem provides a fluidity to the narrative, signifying the continuing, relentless nature of grief.

Language Techniques

Duffy uses metaphorical language to portray grief as an object or physical presence in lines like “Grief is a tree…” and “Grief is a garden of thorns…”. These metaphors serve to make grief tangible, giving it form and substance.
Throughout the poem, there is a strong presence of nature imagery, with references to ‘trees’, ‘wind’, ‘garden’ etc. This could represent the organic, relentless, and inevitable cycle of life and death.
The use of personification allows the poet to bring abstract emotional concepts into the concrete physical realm. For instance, “Grief keeps the weather of the heart…” personifies grief as an entity capable of controlling the ‘weather’ or emotional state of a person.
Both sibilance and alliteration are used in lines such as ‘She sleeps in the soft fall of rain…”, creating a soothing and calming effect, perhaps reflecting the healing and quiet acceptance that comes with time in dealing with grief.
The use of hyperbole, such as in the line “Grief… ageless as the earth”, conveys the enormity and overwhelming scale of grief.

While revising “Grief”, focus on the exploration of grief as a universal, yet highly individual experience, and how Duffy uses structure and language techniques to profoundly communicate this human condition.