SIMILE and METAPHOR in a POEM

A SIMILE is a METHOD of COMPARISON  using the words "LIKE" or "AS".

When, in a POEM, something is said to be "LIKE" another thing, it means that the POET is using SIMILE to convey his/her feelings  about what he/she is describing.


For example: In the statement "Her laughter was like a babbling brook,"  the POET is comparing the laughter of the girl to the sound made by a babbling brook.


A  METAPHOR is a METHOD of COMPARISON where the words "LIKE" and "AS" are not used.

To modify the earlier example, if the statement had been "Her laughter, a babbling brook," then it would be the use of METAPHOR.