| Allusion, according to A Handbook to Literature by | | | | In a place of cloudless skies, |
| C. Hugh Holman, The Odyssey Press, "is a figure | | | | Of love, peace, and endless joy, |
| of speech making casual reference to a famous | | | | Sunlight gleams without a storm, |
| historical or literary figure or event." According to | | | | Glory found in every form. |
| definitions in various literature and composition | | | | I will take forever life |
| text books, an allusion is the casual reference to a | | | | In the place where He's alive, |
| figure or event in history or literature that creates | | | | To know that everyone there |
| a mental image in the mind of the reader. | | | | Need not be separated |
| All right, young man in the back, what's the | | | | Nor ever feel incarcerated. |
| problem? I hear you whispering. Maybe I can | | | | No pain, no illness, no tears |
| answer your question better than your neighbor. | | | | Will be seen much less known, |
| "Uh, well, I just think maybe you have confused | | | | War, a word not even heard. |
| something. Isn't an allusion something you see that | | | | Yes, I will live forever |
| isn't there?" | | | | Once I cross Jordan's river. |
| Thank you. I'm so glad you asked that question. | | | | In the Bible, the river Jordan came to mean the |
| Many people do confuse allusion and illusion. An | | | | river that one crosses into Heaven, therefore |
| allusion is the reference to someone or something | | | | representing death. |
| in literature or history. Illusion is something which is | | | | In the first poem, the allusion adds to the emotion |
| not actually seen or which does not really exist. | | | | of agony, pain, torture. However, in the second |
| One example of an allusion would be something | | | | poem, the allusion adds to the imagery but not |
| like "Like a modern Daniel, the brave little boy | | | | exactly to the emotion. |
| strode to the playground in order to face the | | | | So what allusion brings an emotional image to |
| school bully." The reference to Daniel from the | | | | mind? What does Sir Gallahad bring to mind? |
| Bible who faced hungry lions brings bravery to | | | | Courage, love, knight in shining armor all come to |
| mind. Another allusion might be "The Paul Bunyon | | | | mind, emotional reactions. |
| of a man filled the small room." | | | | Closure |
| An illusion might be "Jim Ross told everyone about | | | | The young boy's eyes sparkled |
| the flying saucer he watched in the night sky. His | | | | As he spied the golden curls |
| wife shook her head in disbelief. 'You also say you | | | | Peeking from under her winter cap. |
| saw me do a strip tease on the front porch, | | | | Since an eight-year-old isn't poetic, |
| illusions the result of over-inbibing that brew you | | | | He packed snow into a ball |
| make in the garage'." | | | | And threw with all his might, |
| Many times writers, especially poets, allude to | | | | Knocking the hat from her head. |
| Biblical characters and events. In The Merchant of | | | | Imagine his surprise as she whirled |
| Venice, Shakespeare used the line "A Daniel come | | | | And returned fire, hitting his chest, |
| to judgement." T.S. Eliot uses a complex literary | | | | Where love for her bloomed. |
| allusion in his The Waste Land and in his notes | | | | Over the years, fast friends |
| about that poem. | | | | They became as they skipped |
| I use allusion occasionally, as in the following | | | | Hand in hand through school. |
| poems, and many times I allude to something | | | | His junior prom, she was his date, |
| Biblical as I do in these. (All poetry is copyrighted | | | | As was he for hers the next. |
| by Vivian Gilbert Zabel.) | | | | After he left for college, |
| Lost and Found | | | | Letters, like winged flames, |
| Screams rend the night darkness | | | | Flew from him to her each week. |
| As chaos reigns in sleeping minds. | | | | The summer became a time of joy |
| Fighting echoing shrieks to awareness, | | | | As they rebuilt their love again. |
| Those once drowsing find themselves | | | | In fall, they had to part once more, |
| Now huddling in fear beneath covers. | | | | He back to the next level; |
| Fire flickers through the filter of eyelids, | | | | She, to the college in town. |
| While those braver than the rest peek | | | | Once full of love and laughter, |
| To glimpse shadows of nightmares | | | | Messages from her came |
| Lingering in delight of tears streaming | | | | Slower and shorter each time. |
| Down cheeks of those too scared to run. | | | | Soon, by Christmas, they stopped. |
| Then faith reaches out its hopeful hand | | | | By end of semester, he heard |
| To touch and tame the frightful madness | | | | She gave her love to another. |
| That only Hell can bring to those who live. | | | | His heart turned to stone. |
| The hero of a demon-filled existence | | | | Years passed, he earned a fortune, |
| Is the One who loves man the most. | | | | But he never had a family. |
| The allusion to Hell brings to mind the agony that | | | | At last the loner returned home |
| is to be found there. | | | | To find his lost love not only |
| Live Forever | | | | Another's wife, but a mother. |
| Who wants to live forever? | | | | He stood in the background, |
| So the pain of heart and limbsCan endure ever | | | | Knowing her husband could be ruined. |
| lasting? | | | | He had the means; he had the hate. |
| Discomfort will grow each day | | | | Then he saw her face in his mind |
| Until I won't want to stay. | | | | And packed the hate away. |
| Talk of immortality, | | | | He died the other day, |
| I could greet my grandchildren's | | | | A driver didn't pause or stop. |
| Progeny for many years. | | | | Many attended the funeral |
| But when their time disappears, | | | | With one woman at the back. |
| I would be overwhelmed with tears. | | | | Tears pooled and spilled |
| I could watch history pass | | | | Before she wiped her face, |
| With war, disease, desolation. | | | | Turned, and slipped away. |
| Leaders would rise and then fall, | | | | Only later did she know |
| Bringing hope, sometimes despair, | | | | He left her not only his heart |
| But never long-lasting care. | | | | But everything he had. |
| I don't want to live forever, | | | | Unknown to her, he had been more, |
| Not in this world we now know. | | | | Her Sir Galahad: Although he wore |
| I want to know that some day | | | | A tarnished, rusted suit of armor. |
| I will be able to escape | | | | I hope you will try using allusion in your poetry, |
| To a place not filled with hate. | | | | for a touch of imagery if nothing else, but also try |
| Who wants to live forever? | | | | to see if the device can add a dose of emotion. |