With thanks to this webpage (see its Summary in Appendix below) from Phrase Dictionary
You took me on a roller-coaster ride,
Unlocked a treasure-chest, you bravely tried
To tell me 'twas a journey deep inside
My heart: it opens, you said, the doors wide
To go behind the mirror where you hide.
You puzzle me to think again. I cried
In surprise that your map the way described
Into a garden in which we'll abide
Together, and stage our play. Will you slide
Into these lives, or peep through, not espied,
Our window. You like a tree our eyes guide
Through branches painted on canvas, to stride
Into playgrounds for souls, for mazes lied
That I might flee their webs before I died.
Cocoon me no longer, let's not be tied
Down, but like a telescope see outside
My present prison, where all futures vied
To be mine but like a dream simplified
By lightness as if a feather had sighed
As it fell through the dense cloud, stupified
By a flashlight cast by us, starry-eyed
By feeling thoughts laboratory analysed.
I never see you as a puzzle-box
Nor time-machine, for time you, like a fox,
Never lets still in it, but under locks.
APPENDIX: Summary (of linked webpage)
| Metaphor | Meaning | In a Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| A Rollercoaster Ride | Full of ups and downs, twists and turns, and emotional highs and lows. | The narrative of the novel took me on a rollercoaster ride, with exhilarating peaks of joy and heart-wrenching plunges into despair. |
| A Treasure Chest | Full of valuable ideas, insights, or information to be “unlocked” and “discovered.” | Opening the novel felt like unlocking a treasure chest, revealing precious gems of wisdom and captivating stories. |
| A Journey | Takes the reader on a mental or emotional journey, often involving self-discovery or personal growth. | Delving into the pages, I found myself on a transformative journey, navigating through the characters’ growth and self-discovery. |
| A Door | A means of opening up new ideas, perspectives, or worlds to the reader. | The novel served as a door to unexplored realms, swinging open to reveal landscapes of imagination and possibilities. |
| A Mirror | Reflects back aspects of the reader’s thoughts, feelings, or experiences. | The protagonist’s struggles became a mirror, reflecting my own challenges and prompting introspection. |
| A Puzzle | Challenges the reader to think critically or creatively to piece together ideas or solve problems. | The intricate plot of the mystery novel presented a puzzle, inviting me to engage my mind in solving its enigmatic riddles. |
| A Map | Acts as a guide or roadmap, helping the reader navigate through complex ideas or situations. | The philosophical concepts in the book acted as a map, guiding me through the intricate terrain of abstract ideas. |
| A Garden | A source of nourishment or inspiration for the reader’s mind or soul. | The poetic verses bloomed like flowers in a garden, nourishing my soul with beauty and profound insights. |
| A Stage | A platform for the author to present their ideas or stories to the reader. | The author skillfully used the pages as a stage, where characters played out their dramas, leaving a lasting impact on the audience. |
| A Window | Offers the reader a glimpse into another time, place, or perspective. | The historical novel acted as a window to the past, providing a vivid glimpse into bygone eras and their unique perspectives. |
| A Tree | A source of stability, knowledge, or growth for the reader. | The classic literature piece stood tall like a wise tree, its branches laden with the fruits of knowledge and timeless lessons. |
| A House | A place of refuge or shelter, where the reader can find comfort, safety, or inspiration. | In the midst of chaos, the novel became a literary house, offering solace and inspiration within its carefully crafted walls. |
| A Canvas | A blank slate on which the author paints their ideas, stories, or characters. | The author, like an artist, skillfully painted the narrative on the canvas of the novel, creating a masterpiece of words and emotions. |
| A Playground | A place where the reader can explore new ideas, worlds, or characters in a fun and imaginative way. | The fantasy novel transformed into a literary playground, where my imagination frolicked among mythical creatures and magical realms. |
| A Puzzle Box | A mystery that the reader must solve or unravel. | The detective novel unfolded like a puzzle box, challenging my intellect as I eagerly pieced together the clues to solve the intricate mystery. |
| A Laboratory | A place where the reader can experiment with new ideas or ways of thinking. | The non-fiction work served as a laboratory, allowing me to experiment with innovative concepts and broaden my intellectual horizons. |
| A Web | A complex network of interconnected ideas or themes. | The philosophical treatise wove a dense web of interconnected concepts, challenging me to navigate the intricate threads of profound thought. |
| A Maze | A confusing or challenging path that the reader must navigate. | The labyrinthine plot of the psychological thriller transformed the book into a literary maze, where suspense lurked around every twist and turn. |
| A Cocoon | A place where the reader can retreat and find shelter or protection. | In times of uncertainty, the novel became a comforting cocoon, providing a sanctuary for the mind to escape and find solace. |
| A Telescope | A means of offering the reader a broader or deeper perspective on the world. | The historical documentary acted as a literary telescope, magnifying historical events to offer a profound and comprehensive view of the past. |
| A Feather | Something that is light, delicate, and easily carried or transported. | The poetry collection resembled a literary feather, its verses light and delicate, gently carrying me away on the wings of emotion. |
| A Cloud | Something that is ethereal or intangible, yet full of ideas or inspiration. | The philosophical discourse floated like a literary cloud, its intangible ideas casting shadows of inspiration across the landscape of my thoughts. |
| A Dream | A source of imagination, creativity, or escapism for the reader. | The fantasy novel enveloped me in a dream, where reality blurred with whimsical tales, and I escaped into a realm of enchantment and magic. |
| A Time Machine | A means of transporting the reader back in time or to a different era. | The historical novel functioned as a literary time machine, transporting me to eras long past, where I could witness history unfold before my eyes. |
| A Flashlight | A source of enlightenment or guidance for the reader in the dark or in times of uncertainty. | During challenging times, the self-help book became a literary flashlight, guiding me through the darkness of uncertainty with its wisdom and insights. |
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