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What Does Dirt Mean

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Think about what dirt is, unimportant debris. No! dirt is the foundation of all life, but its importance is overlooked. Sharon Olds, author of the poem "Ode to Dirt", tells of her point of view on dirt and how it has changed after realizing it, comparing it with other importances in nature. In "Ode to Dirt" Olds uses metaphors, personification, and word choices to change the general opinion about what dirt is. Olds uses metaphors to transcend the literal meaning of dirt and also to try to increase the value placed on dirt. When Olds says "You are our democracy" he means that if dirt is a democracy then it must be very important. It must be at the heart of the way we live and make decisions. By making dirt equate to the heart of society, Olds is increasing the value of the word dirt and trying to disconnect its literal from its figurative meaning. Additionally this can also be seen in "you are the skin of our ground" This quote creates a soft and loving tone. It adds to the idea that dirt is like skin. Everyone creates the idea that dirt is significant, important …show more content…

Olds referred to the dirt as "Dear Dirt", revealing that dirt is treated like a person. Dirt is personified as a deity as Olds says "Oh dirt help us find ways to serve your life" this quote serves to emphasize how Olds is trying to change the meaning of dirt but by doing it in such an extreme way makes us to think that instead of trying to change the figurative meaning of dirt, Olds is praising dirt as if it were a god and this is confirmed when he refers to dirt in this way in the poem "you who have given birth to us and you have fed, and who in the end will take us and spin with us, and wobble and orbit”, it is as if Olds is repeating a mantra to express the beliefs you have around dirt and thus declare your devotion to this supposed

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