Both, the poem “Reluctance” by Robert Frost and “Time Does Not Bring Relief” by Edna St. Vincent Millay, revolved around the theme of lost love . Each poet used a similar set of poetic devices to express this theme. Visual images were one of the illustrative poetic devices used in compositions. Another poetic device used by both poets to convey the mood of the poems was personification. And for the same reason, metaphors were also used to help express the essence of both poems. Ergo, similar poetic devices were used in both poems to convey the theme of mourning the loss of a loved one. The use of visual imagery in each poem helped convey the theme immensely. In the poem “Reluctance” Robert Frost used this poetic device to better illustrate the leaves of autumn: And the dead leaves lie huddled and still No longer are they blown hither and thither; The last lone aster has disappeared; Witch hazel flowers wither; (Frost, 13-16). This poetic device helped the reader visualize not only how quiet and dead the leaves were, but also feel the atmosphere of the poem. In the poem "Time Brings No Relief", Millay used a similar form of imagery to describe the rain which led to the character's memory of love: "...I miss him in the crying of the rain..." (Millay, 3). This description of the rain not only helped to better visualize the rain itself, but also emphasized the sad and desolate tone of the poem. Another example of visual imagery used in Millay's poem was used to illustrate the tides: "...I want it at the narrowing of the tide..." (Millay, 4). The receding of the tides was easily conceivable… in the middle of the paper… to help express the theme of the poems by illustrating the role the topic played in the character's life during the period of mourning. Additionally, metaphors helped communicate the characters' thoughts and feelings by providing the reader with insight into the relationships and emotions hidden in the poem. All in all, the poetic devices incorporated into each and every poetic composition played a vital role in the emotional and dramatic impact of these poems. And who knows, the immaculate use of these fundamental literary tools could be the key to successful love poems around the world. Works CitedSt. Vincent Millay, Edna. "Time brings no relief." 1917. Renaissance and other poems. Kessinger, 2005. 1-52. Print.Frost, Robert. "Reluctance." 1915. A boy's will. Fairfield, IA: 1st World Library Library Society, 2004. 1-48. Press.