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Last month we talked about taking the abstract and making it concrete and I mentioned that in order to do this we needed to use imagery. This month we'll talk about literal and figurative imagery.
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Literal vs. Figurative Imagery
Most poets understand what imagery is, but what about literal imagery and figurative imagery?
I wanted to say that literal imagery, concrete ideas and similes were the Hatfield’s and figurative imagery, abstract ideas, and metaphor were the McCoy’s but I’d hate to see them beating the crud out of each other in your poetry. 
In fact, I’d much rather see them sharing and getting along. If you’ve understood that literal images, concrete ideas and similes are all related (like the Hatfield’s), and that figurative imagery, abstract ideas and metaphor are related (like the McCoy’s) then you’ve caught my train of thought and are ready to meet me in Great Poetryville.
So what is a literal image? Let’s see some examples from my newest poem:
*The mall is infested with gingerbread girls
*They parade through each store
*In the food court they select their thrones
The second example is the clearest case in point of a literal image. The other two have figurative images leaking through, but that’s okay – actually, better than okay, but we’ll cover that in a minute.
Let’s take the second example. “They parade through each store.” You don’t really have to dig deep to figure this image out. You can picture the mall and a parade and even people parading through the stores.
Does anyone remember the song “Raspberry Beret?” Other than the fact that I just dated myself – this is a literal image. It is a pink/red colored French-style hat.
What is a figurative image? This is best done by examples as well:
*The mall is infested with gingerbread girls with frosting smiles and perfect hair.
*tossing giggles to the crowd like Mardi Gras beads
*Pseudo Cinderellas with a nine o’clock curfew
Let’s take the second example. How in the world can a person toss a giggle? You can’t, but wasn’t it fun picturing it? Once paired with Mardi Gras beads the images blend to form depth that is still easily understood by the reader.
Which leads me to my final thoughts on this subject – balance and blend (no need to puree  ).
Literal images are straightforward and easy to understand for most people but figurative images have more depth and need literal images or your reader might drown in the depth of your poem. You might be thinking that that’s a good thing, but the reality is that at best they’ll walk away from your poem shaking their head (which equals no feedback) and at worst they’ll misunderstand the point you’re trying to make (which equals poor feedback).
If you’re interested in seeing the poem that I took the examples from, click here:
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A snapshot of imagery:
The ground beneath the twinkling Pleasure Island
Was once sown by ancient people
With seeds, bulbs, drumbeats
Lava and dinosaur bones
A snapshot of imagery (full of figurative imagery):
Yet ... some of your children are faithful.
They braid the Beloved's braids in secret.
A snapshot of imagery:
At each store's display, my feet simply must stop
To press my nose against each thick window pane,
Eager to peruse the new merchandise crop.
A snapshot of imagery:
Tulips in an ivory vase
Sit on the window sill
Wrapped in the sunlight's sweet embrace
A snapshot of imagery:
A promise
At twilight in a green, expectant field
we hear the sun sigh in slumber
reclining on the mountain's pillow
of chiffon mist and sapphire shadow.
A snapshot of imagery (a load of lovely imagery, both literal and figurative):
Sitting in the chair
with its threadbare bruises,
I am home.
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Comments from last month's newsletter:
Submitted By: Eliot 
Submitted Comment:
Congratulations on your inaugaral newsletter. You have hit upon the right topic here. Imagery is what makes poetry powerful.
Submitted By: Moody Blue: Needs an Upgrade
Submitted Comment:
I recently updated my billboard in my port. What I wrote in it is: Words Whisper; Actions Scream! Is that considered imagery?
I consider it imagery  Comments from our readers?
Submitted By: billwilcox
Submitted Comment:
Fabulous newsletter, Red! I don't often see my poems in them. Thanks for the treat.
Submitted By: Katya the Poet 
Submitted Comment:
Fabulous newsletter! Thank you for the clear and concise look at abstract and concrete--something I try to do with every creative writing class (not to mention in every poem I write, so I am practicing what I preach!) Also you and I share a lot of favorite poets here!!!!
Submitted By: rlwilkerson
Submitted Comment:
All I have to say is "What!!?? No black cases in your favorites??!!"
In my defense I did say it wasn't a complete list but honestly it's because I don't get the chance to spend as much time as I'd like to at Writing.com anymore (because I'm a mom of four taking close to a full load of college courses). Most of the black cases I once knew have since been promoted and I haven't had a chance to get to know many new ones.
Submitted By: hobnobkitkat
Submitted Comment:
I am curious about other people's opinions as I am very new to writing poetry. Do you think that people's individual taste plays more of a role in what a person likes than in other written genres. I am taking a poetry class at a local community college and one of the poems in our book last class really brought a strong image to my mind because in a sense I had lived in a place where I experienced that. But everyone else slammed the poem (and it was by a well-known poet). So I am curious as to other people's thoughts on the matter.
Sharon (AKA Hobnobkitkat)
I think personal taste is always a big part of anything artistic but more so for poetry? I'd be interested to know what the newsletter readers thought about this. Send us your comments!
Submitted By: sharonbythesea
Submitted Comment:
What a wonderful collection of poetry. Some inspired, others touched, a few were too sad to comprehend. I read them all.
Thank you, sharon by the sea
Submitted By: spyder
Submitted Comment:
Hey, good job! Interesting newsletter. I can't wait to see some examples over imagery to see if I'm doing it right or not. I don't think I do figurative all that well yet.
Anywho. Happy days to you and I'll be awaiting the next newsletter! =)
Submitted By: Brians Next Novel Almost Done!
Submitted Comment:
Do you have a preference for literal or figurative imagery? Why or why not?
I like, use and prefer them equally because I believe in balance. A poem needs both types of imagery.
Thank you all for you wonderful feedback. Keep it coming!
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Poetry: March 22, 2006 Issue [#940]
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