Torchlight swings beneath a salting of stars
-- Speaker (Line 2)

Importance: This line uses alliteration in the repeating S sounds of “swings”, “salting”, and “stars”. It juxtaposes two sources of light: that of the far-away stars, a product of the natural world, and that of personal torches (a handheld device that would be called a flashlight in North America), an immediate, brighter product of humankind. The latter is in motion while the former is in stasis. This creates the sense that the stars are watching over the scene below.

the blade against the trunk / like a pair of scales
-- Speaker (Lines 3-4)

Importance: This line uses the word “scales” both to create a visual image and to convey symbolic meaning. In the first instance, the simile is used to describe the relationship between two items: the scale creates a broad and horizontal axis, while the tall, vertical tree acts as the fulcrum. But symbolically, it’s clear the...