biography | outline | literary terms | links | works cited | literary criticism | activities | poetry presentation web | poem text
Allusion: Cofer alludes to the young girls making their first communion to allude to a ritual common to her country, although a ritual that would not be seen by the naked eye (lines 2-4):
“See the little houses gathered
around the cathedral like girls
making their First Communion”
Simile: Cofer compares the landmarks such as the houses and the church to various aspects of the town, such as the little girls making their communion and to the priest listening to the confessions in order to draw parallels to the town and its rituals
“notice how the old church leans
toward the town as if listening
to its whispered confessions”
Imagery: Cofer’s entire poem comprises one image in order to present what the visitor sees as he approaches the town.
Personification: The personification of the houses and the church provides a deeper understanding of the town’s distinctions
"notice how the old church leans
toward the town as if listening"
Aphorism: In the last line of Cofer’s poem, she asserts that “Only postcard days are forever”, thus asserting that the image one sees in a postcard is superficial enough to never change
Allegory: Cofer's poem presents an allegory for the importance of understanding and appreciating rather than simply seeing superficially
Diction: The most important diction in the poem is in the title. Cofer uses the word “Stage” to connote something pretended and unreal, which to travelers may be the picture on a postcard.