Personification

Another term that is used in poetry (and other types of writing) is personification [per-son-uh-fi-key-shuhn], a figure of speech in which human attributes are given to objects or abstract ideas.  I found the following example of personification in a poem online:

Take a Poem to Lunch

I'd love to take a poem to lunch

or treat it to a wholesome brunch

of fresh cut fruit and apple crunch.

I'd spread it neatly on the cloth

beside a bowl of chicken broth

and watch a mug of root beer froth.

I'd feel the words collect the mood,

the taste and feel of tempting food

popped in the mouth and slowly chewed,

and get the smell of fresh baked bread

that sniffs inside and fills our head

with thoughts that no word ever said.

And as the words rest on the page

beside the cumin, salt and sage,

and very slowly start to age,

like soup that simmers as it's stirred,

ingredients get mixed and blurred

and blends in taste with every word

until the poet gets it right,

the taste and smell

and sound and sight,

the words that make it fit.

Just write.

~ Denise Rodgers

Here are a couple of sentences that I wrote, using personification:

The wind whispered to the flower garden

as the daffodils nodded their agreement.

The waves danced and tumbled on the shore.

Take a close look at your surroundings.  How could you personify the objects around you and put that into writing?  I hope you will share some of the phrases or sentences or poems that you come up with!