Erin Hanson Poem Analysis

Erin Hanson: Reassurance in Flaws The name Erin Hanson is one many have not heard. The young poets ideas spread confidence, self love, and acceptance. Her young age allows her to connect with her audience in ways many her fellow poets can not. For example in her poem non-officially titled “People are not poetry” Hanson covers the many struggles of being human. However; instead of focusing on the negative, she turns the spotlight on accepting what makes each one of us different. This interesting turn makes for some fascinating works of literature and life lessons. Style and tone, symbolism, and metaphorical language communicate embracing individualism in Erin Hanson's poetry. To begin, Hanson expresses embracing individualism in her poems

In her poem, Erin represents many topics that are about embracing individualism. One example of symbolism is “poetry” in the line “people are not poetry.” (line 4). Poetry in this metaphor stands for many ideas. First, representing perfection. Throughout the poem Erin depicts poetry as well put together and thought out. However what the point of the line is truly depicting is the exact opposite. Erin uses the word poetry to contradict the idea of her message, that people are not perfect. With this comparison the reader takes away a message of hope. The idea that noone is perfect no matter how hard they try. The second example of symbolism is “star” in the line “You may not be a star that lights the darkness,” (line 17). In this poem star represents bright, outgoing, and eye catching. What Erin is trying to portray is that not everyone is outgoing and extraverted and that's okay. Her use of star is to contrast her idea of “perfection”. Perfect is not being like the majority of society, rather, being the best each person can be. It is not always about being at the top, it is about being unique and ourselves. Loving what makes each person

The first type of metaphorical language Erin uses is metaphors. Comparing perfection to flaws. One example is “People are not poetry,” (line 4). With this metaphor, Erin is comparing two very different objects; people and poetry. In the poem she depicts poetry as being perfect and well put together which she later contrasts to people. People are described as being messy and scattered. Erin, with the use of metaphors, si able to convey that people are not perfect. Another example of her use of metaphors is the line,“Through a poem once complete is eternal, You have the freedom to change overtime,” (line 23 and 24). This metaphor reminds the reader that no matter how much someone tries, perfection is unrealistic and unnecessary. People should not strive to achieve perfection because the idea of perfection is what society has planted into our minds. Instead people should strive to be unique and the best version of themselves. This idea is also backed up by Erins use of personification. After demonstrating the frustrating aspects of being human, Erin offers some reassurance. “Your hair doesn't always sit neatly, the way a poem sits so neatly in lines,” (line 13 and 14). Now hair and poems don’t actually sit, but what she is trying to convey is that again, self confidence is not about fitting in, it should be about standing out. No one should strive to be perfect, rather, to be