Imagery And Diction In The Ballad Of Birmingham

The “Ballad Of Birmingham” is a tribute to an earth-shattering historical incident that took place in Birmingham, Alabama. The poet’s purpose was to force the readers to empathize with the mothers that lost their children to this incident by providing a more intimate and vicarious perspective. Imagery and diction were two essential elements that allowed the poet to achieve this purpose. These elements enabled the readers to gain a unique understanding that may not have been accessible prior to reading this poem. The quote “white gloves on her small brown hands” epitomizes the use of effective imagery in this particular poem. White is a color frequently utilized in literature to signify purity and innocence. This color is accompanied by the