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In “The Lonely Land”, A.J.M Smith says “This is a beauty/of dissonance,/this resonance” (23-25). By this quote, he means that even though the land is not perfect, there is something to be found under imperfection such as something beautiful. Dumont repeats, “this land is not” three times throughout the poem to make sure the readers understand that the land is not to be taken advantage of. In both of the poems, the land is more than just a place to live. “Not Just a Platform for My Dance” compares the land to a teacher. “this land is not/just a platform for my dance” (13-14) is a good quote to explain that the land is not just there for everyone’s wants, but for everyone’s needs. Dancers do not necessarily need a platform to perform but students need teachers to learn from. “The Lonely Land” simply explains the land in precise facts. A quote that describes the land is “When the wind/bends the tops of the pines/and curdles the sky/from the north.” (31-34). When Smith says this, he helps the readers get a better understanding of the land. The main sight device in Dumont’s poem is personification because of the way the land teaches us to not be greedy. “this land is/my tongue my eyes my mouth” (6) is an excellent example of personification because the land is given characteristics of a human face. A metaphor is used when Dumont
