Personification Poems & Personification PoetryYou might be wondering: just what are a Personification Poems. First we have to define "personification." But generally speaking, personification poetry uses the literary device of giving human characteristics to a non-human, or even inanimate object. It's similar to metaphor, in that it describes something by comparing it to something else, but it is more specific. The best way to understand personification is to read some Personification Poetry. I've included five sample poems on this page: four from my two books, and one of my personification poems that was originally published in Children's Digest, in 1995. The first of the Personification Poems is The Sun Just Had a Nasty Day, from my book, A Little Bit of Nonsense. You can tell from the title that the sun is given human qualities in this poem. (The sun -- or lack of it -- can cause a nasty day; but it cannot have a nasty day.) 
The Sun Just Had a Nasty Day The sun just had a nasty day, refused to smile or shine. It stayed behind the dark gray clouds, a mottled, grim design. But shortly after dinner time one ray poked though the gray, a spark of golden yellow warmth reminding us of day. If you want to please us, Sun, (don't take this as a warning) if you're going to pierce the clouds, please do it in the morning. by Denise Rodgers Copyright© Denise Rodgers A Little Bit of Nonsense All Rights Reserved Art by Julie Martin The next of the personification poems says it all in the title. Take a Poem to Lunch treats the concept of a poem itself as a human companion. This poem is on page 72 of
A Little Bit of Nonsense. I'd feel the words collect the mood, The next example of Personification Poetry is White Tail Café, from Great Lakes Rhythm & Rhyme. While the this personification poem is basically about what deer eat, the device that makes you picture the deer selecting these choices at a café, from a menu, is personification, making it a piece of Personification Poetry. 
The White-Tail Café Welcome, my deer,to the White-Tail Café. Because it is summer our menu today has mushrooms, tomatoes and wildflower stew, some tasty young carrots we've plucked just for you. So glad it's not winter The title of the next poem, If Dogs Could Talk, humanizes dogs, which is what personification poems are all about. 
If Dogs Could Talk If dogs could talk, what they would say would simply take your breath away. Like: I don't want to see your knees. Or: Pass a bit of roast beef, please. When dawning sun shines in the east they'd say: It's time for morning's feast. When silent, still and somewhat broodish, their minds are simply on your food dish. Some might speak with British accent, sniffing one another's back scent. Some might lisp and some might stammer, some would have atrocious grammar. Some would chitchat, some would twaddle. Some would rush and some would dawdle. Curling on your soft bed nightly, most would say: Good night, politely. by Denise Rodgers Copyright© Denise Rodgers A Little Bit of Nonsense All Rights Reserved Art by Julie Martin The final example of Personification Poetry is Jack Frost, Artist, a poem that was published in 
Jack Frost, Artist There's a pattern on my window When the night's been very cold. The artist who created it Is Jack Frost, I am told. He only deals in abstracts And in geometric lines. He's not much for still lifes Or Renaissance designs. He doesn't paint in color; His designs are all in white. The sunlight shows their beauty In the early morning light. I never hear him working; Not a scratch, a sigh, or cough. It's not too bad for Jack, though; He gets the summer off. by Denise Rodgers Copyright© Denise Rodgers All Rights Reserved If you've enjoyed the poems on this page and would like to purchase a book, please click on the ad below for more information. 
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