Fragments From Floyd

Nature can be seen sharp and clear through the eyes of the scientist or shrouded in mystery and wonder by the poet-writer.

The scientist's eye sees fact: four fronds of Interrupted Fern viewed from above to show the newly unfurling sterile portion rising above the fertile pennae, dark and full of spores, below.

The writer's imagination sees through simile and metaphor: four wizened birds--like the Skeksis in Dark Crystal--standing in council, their dark arms cloaked in robes, outstretched. I could hear their chanting.

Metaphor: a figure of speech in which one class of things is referred to as if it belonged to another class. Whereas a simile states that A is like B, a metaphor states that A is B or substitutes B for A.