Imagery
Imagery
Imagery
While poems and songs can paint a vivid picture since they are longer mediums,
imagery can be found in just a single sentence as well. Consider the following imagery
examples:
He fumed and charged like an angry bull.
He fell down like an old tree falling down in a storm.
He felt like the flowers were waving him a hello.
The eerie silence was shattered by her scream.
He could hear his world crashing down when he heard the news about her.
The F-16 swooped down like an eagle after its prey.
The word spread like leaves in a storm.
The lake was left shivering by the touch of morning wind.
Her face blossomed when she caught a glance of him.
He could never escape from the iron grip of desire.
He could hear the footsteps of doom nearing.
She was like a breath of fresh air infusing life back into him.
The pot was a red as a tongue after eating a cherry flavored ring pop.
Though I was on the sheer face of a mountain, the feeling of swinging through the air
was euphoric, almost like flying without wings.
Her blue eyes were as bright as the Sun, blue as the sky, but soft as silk.
The music coursed through us, shaking our bodies as if it came from within us.
The giant tree was ablaze with the orange, red, and yellow leaves that were beginning
to make their descent to the ground.
Here is another example of imagery in music.
She wears a long fur coat of mink
Even in the summertime
Everybody knows from the coy little wink
The girl's got a lot on her mind
She's got big thoughts, big dreams
And a big brown Mercedes sedan
What I think this girl, she really wants
Is to be in love with a man
-Sheila E., Glamorous Life
In this illustration, the imagery gains momentum with each line. It starts out slow, yet
always building momentum through its vivid description of the mystery girl in the long
fur coat of mink.
Imagery Is Description
Have you ever been in a situation where an instructor mentioned the catch phrase, Be
as descriptive as possible? In short, imagery can best be defined as descriptive
language.
If you take that definition one step further and apply it to the five human sense, then the
definition simply becomes, descriptive language that has the ability of appealing to the
five human senses. That does not necessarily mean that imagery applies to all five
human senses collectively. It merely means that imagery is the use of descriptive
language that can be appealing to one or more of the five human senses.
Although most often used in poetry, imagery can be used in just about any form of
writing. Whether fiction or nonfiction, imagery is what provides the color, or what a
reader can see in his or her minds eye about a particular written work. Contemporary
examples of imagery in action include stories in the newspaper, crime scene reports
and of course, works of fiction.
Imagery is also used in songs, movies, television shows and everyday reports. It is the
way in which the writer or author of a particular work conveys texture and vividness to
the reader. It is also the way in which the writer shows the reader the intended image of
the work, instead of telling them.
If you ever find yourself wondering where you can find good imagery examples, you can
turn on your radio, mp3 player, or even pull out a book, and you will find many
examples.
Take a look at the following example and see if you can better understand its use of
imagery:
On a starry winter night in Portugal
Where the ocean kissed the southern shore
There a dream I never thought would come to pass
Came and went like time spent through an hourglass
-Teena Marie, Portuguese Love
The sample above was taken from soul, songstress of the 1980s, Teena Maries hit love
song entitled Portuguese Love. Did you notice how descriptive the lyrics are? In this
sample alone, the imagery is increasingly apparent to the reader. Even though this is a
portion of the lyrics from a song, if you read it, you can almost feel the sand of the
beach beneath your feet.
Another famous poem that contains imagery is "Daffodils" by William Wordsworth. As
you read through the poem, he paints a wonderful picture of daffodils such that you can
almost picture them in the breeze:
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the Milky Way
By G. Burce Bunao
Made me a toy--
Or fish or grapes
Every little thing that happens in our childhood is somewhat memorable. It makes
us smile every time we reminisce to those memories. This poem is also pertaining to
the joys of the children while playing in the tree. Those moments still remains every
time a child see the tree that becomes a part of their lives.
CREDENDA
By R. Vinzons Asis
So I left, cursing
of his silence.
Wishes are always asked by people. Like in this poem wishes are not been given
right away. We need to wait for those wishes, because there is always a right time
for all. It doesnt really mean that if our wish is not given right away, we are taking for
granted. God knows the right time that is good for us. We dont need to rush
everything. Remember that there is something better when we are waiting patiently.
By Tita Lacambra-Ayala
If truth is real
it will
become true
If truth is
unreal it will
not become
as you
are truth
you will
become true
if not to me
thats real
to me when I
touch you
The authors feeling seems to be hurt. Maybe his fianc is being dishonest. The
poem is very true, that in a relationship it is right that we need to be true, not only for
the person that we love but especially for our own self. Being true and honest is the
foundation of all relationship.
magpakabibihag ha panhunahuna,
Every month of May, there is what we called Flores de Mayo. These are done by
beautiful ladies walking and they have used different flowers for their arko and for
their bouquet. Flowers to be used are selected carefully. They symbolize many
things and selecting the right flower becomes more attractive to the judgemental
eyes of the people watching it. It also gives beauty to the lady that uses the flower
as her design in her arko. The beauty of those flowers that we have seen during the
month of May is really priceless.
Salvador B. Espinas
Love is gentle, love is quiet
Love is unconditional. You can never predict what love is. Love can make things go
right and beast will turning to a Good Samaritan
SPEAK NOT
Soledad R. Juan
This poem was written by a teen-aged girl who was bound to a sickbed all he life,
and yet she did not find her life monotonous and boring. Many people measure
enjoyment in terms of a good time. They welcome their vacation as one long
opportunity foe a good time, and they dread nothing more than being sick in bed.
QUIETNESS
Amador T. Daguio
I am lover of quietness-
City people are bombarded by noise. The numble of trucks passing, the screech of
the brakes, the blare of radios and jukeboxes forever blast our ears. To a person
who spends days and nights in the noisy city, the longing for quiet and serenity is
understandable
JOSE RIZAL
Guillermo V. Sison
wealth-laden
MACTAN
Virginia B. Licuanan
Of military might
No Spaniards armor
The story of our past would not be complete if we leave out the story of our struggle
for freedom. The poem that followed shows vivid glimpse of our fight for liberty. The
historical account of arrival of Magellan and Lapu-lapu fought to keep our country
from foreign rule.
THE SAMPAGUITA
Natividad Marquez
Little sampaguita
As a child you must have looked for the tiny buds as the early rain began to fall.
You probably watched this buds develop into a flower which perfumes the air. The
sampaguita is tiny and fragrant. We use to make leis with which to greet our friends
who come to visits us.
Last Love
Best of friends
together took a leap
Now true friends
ahh! feelings run deep
Two hearts fused
hands ever entwined
2.
Last Piece in the Puzzle of My life
Vic P. Yambao
3.
Who Am I
Brian Joseph Sy
4.
Tracing You
Kristina Aquino
5.
Friendship
Vener Santos
6.
No rest
Kyo Zapanta
7.
Distillation
Jan L. Velasco
Watching the rain spilling down,
drowning the earth below,
reminds me of
life's perpetual change.
8.
Now I Know
Jose Paulo Tolentino
9.
Hot
Karlo Pineda
A wrinkled forehead
alters your fair face.
Furious stares nest
in your eyes--sanctuaries
for nothing save fears and fires.
By this time
you are a swollen sun
ready to punish
my city with the scorching
of twin hells.
PROEM
Jose Garcia Villa
Back to main
SONNET I
Jose Garcia Villa
PICTURE SHOW
Guillermo Castillo
O MY NATIVE LAND
Tarrosa Subido
JUNGLE RAIN
Maximo Ramos
SONG IN EXILE
Aurelio S. Alvero
It is harvest-time in Polo and the fields bear ripened grain,
Stalks on stalks of gold and yellow; fruit of sun and rain-
There's a moon of gleaming silver looking down on fields below,
Stars that sprinkle dark blue heavens with their ever-sparkling glow;
List to songs of voices joyful sing of love and joy and gain.
For 'tis harvest-time in Polo and the fields are ripe with grain.
Now 'tis harvest time in Polo; I can hear their happy songs,
But I must stay in city walls while my sad heart fondly longs
To be with them and join the harvest of the laden stalks of gold;
I can see them gaily working 'neath the moonrays brightly cold-
And oh! to be with them this evening, to do the harvest once again
In this harvest-time in Polo where the fields are ripe with grain.
SHADOWS
Gerson M. Mallillin
VISAYAN POEM
Joseph B. Man
TO JOSEPHINE
Jose Rizal
Josephine, Josephine
Who to these shores have come
Looking for a nest, a home,
Like a wandering swallow;
If your fate is taking you
To Japan, China or Shanghai,
Don't forget that on these shores
A heart for you beats so high
To Virgin Mary
Mary, sweet peace, solace dear
Of pained mortal ! You're the fount
Whence emanates the stream of succor,
That without cease our soil fructifies.
To Josephine
Rizal dedicated this poem to Josephine Bracken, an Irish woman who went to Dapitan accompanying a man seeking Rizal's
services as an ophthalmologist.
Josephine, Josephine
Who to these shores have come
Looking for a nest, a home,
Like a wandering swallow;
If your fate is taking you
To Japan, China or Shanghai,
Don't forget that on these shores
A heart for you beats high.
Song of Maria Clara
A poem, found in Rizal's book Noli Me Tangere, sung by Maria Clara, which accounts for the title
Kundiman
Truly hushed today
Are my tongue and heart
Harm is discerned by love
And joy flies away,
'Cause the Country was
Vanquished and did yield
Through the negligence
Of the one who led.
We shall shed
Blood and it shall flood
Only to emancipate
The native land;
While the designated time
Does not come,
Love will rest
And anxiety will sleep.
Our Mother Tongue
A poem originally in Tagalog written by Rizal when he was only eight years old
To the Philippines
Rizal wrote the original sonnet in Spanish
by my selves. It is different,
for I escape before and behind,
left and right of me, a stage without
KUNDIMAN
by Eman Lacaba
Ang sabi mo pula ang paborito mo.
Ang sabi ko puti ang paborito ko.
Kagabi nang tayong dalawa'y nagkita,
nakapula ako at nakaputi ka.
KUNDIMAN
1.
Thy glance, sweet maid, when first we met,
Had left a heart that aches for thee,
I feel the pain of fond regret
Thy heart, perchance, is not for me.
2.
We parted: though we met no more,
My dreams are dreams of thee, fair maid;
I think of thee, my thoughts implore
The hours my lips on thine are laid.
3.
Forgive these words that love impart,
And pleading, bare the poets breast;
And if a rose with thorns thou art,
Yet on my breast that rose may rest.
4.
I know not what to name thy charms,
Thou art half human, half divine;
And if I could hold thee in my arms,
I know both heaven and earth were mine.
1968