It comprises four stanzas, each of which has four lines. Its rhyme pattern is AABB, which poets commonly use. In the subsequent stanzas, it continues similarly. Sign up for our free Newsletter stuffed full of ideas, competitions and offers. PS Did we mention it’s free? Please share this with your family & friends if you liked it! Dust If You Must by Rose Milligan To laugh often and love much, to win the respect of intelligent persons and the affections of children;

Dust If You Must by Rose Milligan - Poem Analysis

The second line of the second stanza of the second poem builds to a peak. The central meaning of this poem is included in the final sentence, “life to lead.” This poet believes they wouldn’t have any regrets if they had decided to live. Many things may feed the intellect and enlighten the spirit.The speaker encourages the reader to be active in life by naming what the reader could be doing: painting, writing, baking, planting, pondering, swimming, climbing, listening, reading, cherishing, leading, and feeling the day. Fun rhyming poems are always good! But this one reminds us of every kids' room ever! They are so tough to keep tidy. We think this poem should be shared with children all over the world in a bid to get them to tidy their rooms. Share it with the messy children in your life, then start your decluttering project together. Dust If You Must’ by Rose Milligan contains several literary devices that make the poet’s thoughts more appealing to the readers. Likewise, the title, “Dust if you must” contains a metonymy. Dust is a symbolic reference to human beings. Humans are made of dust and after death, they return to this state. There is a rhetorical question or interrogation in the last line of the first stanza. In the second stanza, the poet uses a climax from the second line to the end of the stanza. The last phrase “life to lead” is the most important idea of this stanza.

Dust if You Must - Holy Joe Poem: Dust if You Must - Holy Joe

This stanza’s final line contains an epigram. The poet employs a personification in the final verse when he writes, “Old age will come and it’s not nice.” The final sentence has both an apostrophe and a contradiction. Historical Context The speaker warn the reader that eventually everyone dies and “[you], yourself, will make more dust” (Milligan, 16).Dust If You Must” discusses what is preferable to consider. The dust, which represents the souls of the deceased, was unconcerned with life’s meaning. Each line in the poem has a different number of feet. So, we can call it a rhyming poem with the common meter.