Question

“When Love”: A poem by Alicia Ostriker
By Alicia Ostriker, Poets.org
Text and image retrieved from Newsela with permission.
when love floods a person
it cuts
a canyon
that deepens year after year
carrying silt
away leaving
the essential person
revealed
letting everyone see
the layers of yellow
sandstone, red basalt
grey granite
when love washes over a person
it washes
the person away
5
10
15

© Houston ISD Curriculum 2024-2025 10

How does the author use the metaphor of a canyon in the first stanza to convey the
transformative power of love?
The use of metaphor… by…
_________________________________________________________

Answer 1

The use of metaphor in comparing love to a canyon conveys the transformative power of love by illustrating how it profoundly reshapes a person's identity over time. Just as a canyon is carved out and deepened by the persistent flow of water, love gradually erodes and reveals the true essence of an individual. This process highlights both the beauty and complexity of a person's layers—symbolized by different types of rock—suggesting that love not only uncovers hidden aspects of character but also alters and refines them, ultimately revealing a deeper, more authentic self. The imagery of sediment being carried away emphasizes the idea that love can strip away superficiality, leaving behind the core of who a person is, while simultaneously acknowledging the ongoing, dynamic nature of this transformation.