Question

I’m stone. I’m flesh.

My clouded reflection eyes me

like a bird of prey, the profile of night

slanted against morning. I turn

this way – the stone lets me go.

—“Facing It,” Yusef Komunyakaa

Identify each line as simile, metaphor, or personification.

“I’m stone. I’m flesh.”


“My clouded reflection eyes me / like a bird of prey”


“the stone lets me go”

Answer 1

“I’m stone. I’m flesh.” — Metaphor.
- The speaker is directly equated to stone and to flesh; no "like" or "as" — it’s a figurative identification.

“My clouded reflection eyes me / like a bird of prey” — Simile.
- The reflection is compared to a bird of prey with "like"; note that "eyes me" also personifies the reflection (giving it attentive, animal/intentional action).

“the stone lets me go.” — Personification.
- An inanimate stone is given the human/volitional ability to “let” someone go.