1. A Thousand WindsDo not stand at my grave and weep; I am not there, I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow. I am the diamond glints on snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain. I am the gentle autumn's rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush, I am the swift uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry; I am not there, I did not die.<br />Structure<br />The rhyme scheme follows a pattern (AABBCCDDFF), so the poem is a series of couplets. The lines 1-2 are couplets in which the ideas are repeated in the last couplets 11- 12. Lines 3- 10 in stanzas 2 and 3 explain why the writer says, “Do not stand at my grave and weep”. All sentences except lines 7-9 are short in length to show the quiet “morning” which has different atmosphere from other lines. <br />Imagery<br />The writer compares himself to “winds”, “the diamond glints”, “sunlight”, “rain”, “stars” and “birds”, so readers imagine the grandeur of his being. Readers imagine that they are watched over fondly everywhere at any time because in lines 3- 8, there are words “night” and “morning” indicate all the time. Sight imagery, “diamond glints” and “sunlight” are shiny light which show hope to the readers. Touch imagery, “the gentle autumn’s rain” gives soft and kind impression to the readers.<br />Tone<br />This poem has the tone of grandeur and warmth. The speaker tells the readers “Do not stand at my grave and weep” to encourage them. He also gives reasons why they should not weep. He describes himself, “I am a thousand winds that blow”. The thousand winds sound great and powerful, so they feel easy that they are protected by him and feel warmth.<br />Other Stylistic Devices<br />In this poem, the speaker uses several metaphors to him to explain he is always watching over the readers. For example, he compares himself to “the sunlight on ripened grain”. The readers can see the sun everywhere and they may feel you are not alone. Another metaphor, “the soft stars that shine at night” shows that even in the night, they are watched over and feel warm like. Same as “the sunlight”, “the stars” are also in the sky. The sky is wide and spread everywhere, so it gives them feeling of safety as he cares for you. The alliteration of the letter “s” and repetition of “sh” indicate soft sound of the wind. “A thousand winds” is hyperbole which shows that the wind is everywhere and it gives the readers an idea that the speaker seems to almost be god. <br />Theme<br />The theme of this poem is how people face someone’s death. The poem is written from the point of view of a person who has died. People are often depressed when their important person dies. However, the poem says that the person who dies does not want to see their loved ones cry or feel sad. The poem’s message is that prolonging painful memories does not make the person who dies happy. Moreover, the speaker tells that the person who dies cares about the readers and watched over them all the time even after they have died. Therefore, they can feel a sense of satisfaction. <br />Personal Reflection<br />When I read this poem, I am surprised because I thought that the only thing I could do for the person who dies is to show my sadness. However, in this poem, the speaker says that you should not only regret someone’s death and get depressed, but you also need to be released from the sadness and move forward. When my grandmother passed away, I was so depressed because she is very precious to me. Even now, I sometimes feel sad about that, but I also think I need to show her I am fine. Moreover, the speaker says these departed loved ones watch over you, so I do not feel lonely. <br />