This column by Tom Radzienda, an instructor in poetry and culture at Srinakharinwirot University, aims to encourage your interest and develop your skill in creating poetry. Poetry is a combination of visualisation, observation, imagination and creative use of language. Discover your poetic side, too!

March 11, 2003

Simply a simile

A simile is a comparison of two things based on one shared quality. It is a very common poetic device, and also occurs frequently in everyday language. A simile uses the words "like" or "as" to make a comparison. Observe the following examples.

Wordsworth wrote, "I wandered lonely as a cloud, that floats on high over vales and hills." He shows the nature of his feelings of loneliness by comparing it to a single cloud floating across the sky.

Byron wrote, "She walks in beauty, like the night, of cloudless climes and starry skies." He reveals the deeper beauty of the woman by comparing her to a beautiful night. This description goes beyond her mere human beauty.

Simile and metaphors

Similes and metaphors both involve comparison, but a simile is less complex and usually a "one-dimensional" comparison. A metaphor on the other hand involves a complete transformation of one thing into another (visit poet tree at <www.bangkokpost.com/education/site2003/ptau1302.htm> to learn more about metaphor).

"His head was shaped like an egg" is a simile that compares only the shape of the man’s head with the shape of an egg. This does not imply anything about the man’s intelligence or personality.

"He is an egghead" implies that his head is soft on the inside, probably stupid, thus indicating that the man’s ideas are silly and unclear. This is a deeper evaluation of the man, not merely a casual observation. Notice the difference between the simple comparison of simile and the complex comparison of metaphor.

What a simile is not

Be careful: Just because you see the word "like" or "as" does not mean it is a simile. For example, "I like chocolate" is definitely not a simile. In this case, "like" is a verb meaning enjoy, and is not a comparison.

"They fell in love as soon as they met" is not a simile either. "As soon as" means "immediately" in this sentence and is therefore not a simile. Remember that a simile is a comparison between two different things that share one characteristic.

"He looks just like his father" is also not a simile. In this case, the comparison is between two people. The resemblance therefore is quite literal.

Everyday similes

Similes are a part of our daily lives. Similes are not only an element of poetry but also a vital part of natural and effective language. They are as common as noodle shops in Bangkok. Think about how popular noodles are in Thailand and you’ll see the popularity of simile.

Traditional similes are used everyday. In fact, these similes are used so often that they no longer feel poetic. New similes appear every day like passengers at the central train station. Create your own similes in the exercise below.

Traditional simile	Meaning	A fun, modern variation
Mad as a hatter	crazy
As cold as ice	very cold
Busy as a bee	doing many activities
Like pulling hen’s teeth	very difficult
As old as the hills	Very old

The strength of simile

Similes are adjusted according to how strongly or weakly we want to make our point. Observe how the similes below vary the relative strength of hope depending upon the item to which it is compared. Add three more similes on the subject of hope.

Strength	Simile
Weak
Average	My hope is like a bird high among the tops of trees
Average
Strong	I have hopes of being successful like a preying lion
Strong
Stronger	My hopes gallop like the wildest horse on the prairie
Extremely Strong

Like a simile

Similes compare things that share similar traits. Complete the chart below by writing original comparisons rather than standard similes. Happy as a lark for example, has lost its power because it is overused. Remember: Poetry seeks fresh expression.

	happy as…	sad as…	crazy as…	confused as…
fruit	a banana
animal
instrument		a bassoon
flower
sport				a blind archer
weather			autumn showers

Adding simile to your poetic recipe

With practice, using simile becomes as common as brushing your teeth. Soon, you will automatically find the right comparison to emphasise your point in creative new ways. After completing the chart above, choose the most interesting similes and use them in your writing. For example:

I was as happy as a banana on the day it becomes ripe.
She felt like a blind archer trying to do her homework.
His crying sounded like an old bassoon when he failed his exam.

Adding simile to your poetry is like adding salt to your food. If you put in too much, it’s not going to taste very good. Put in just enough to develop the flavour of the poem, but not so much that it dominates the whole meal.

Finishing your poem

Share your poem with friends who might enjoy hearing your new comparisons. Send samples to:

Poet Tree
C/o Learning Post
Eighth Floor Bangkok Post Building
136 Na Ranong
Klongtoey 10110, Bangkok

Tom Radzienda is an instructor in poetry and culture at Srinakharinwirot University. Visit his poetry column at www.bangkokpost.com/poetry

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