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Question: Use of Sarcasm in Poems!?
I am a little confused about what sarcasm in literature means!.
I need to find two examples of sarcasm in Billy Collin's Nostalgia
Is this an example of sarcasm!?
"It was a wonderful time to be alive, or even dead!."
You can find the poem here:
http://www!.poemhunter!.com/poem/nostalgia!.!.!.

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Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Sarcasm is extremely rare in poetry, but Nostalgia is an excellent example of it!.

You've hit the nail on the head with the line you quoted!. Definitely sarcastic!. A tad nonsensical but sarcasm is usually hard to explain!. Another example that I found was:

"Out on the dance floor we were all doing the Struggle"

There was no such dance called "The Struggle" but the author is mocking the type of dancing that was prevalent in that period!.

Another:
"We borrowed the jargon of farriers for our slang!."
No they didn't!. A farrier is someone who looks after horse's feet, and I'm not aware of any farrier terms being used as slang now or in the past!. Of course, it was apparently in 1572, so I can't be certain!.

It's tricky, because you can't hear the tone!. But the entire poem does seem to have a sarcastic slant to it!.
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I agree with the one below who said it may be more of a metophor than sarcaasm!.!.!.although sometimes sarcasm is used in poetry but I do think it's used as a way to describe a feeling more so than being mean!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I think it is a metaphor rather than sarcasm!. It could mean that once your dead you have no more problems or troubles or he could be referring to heaven and earth!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

sarcasm in poems are hard to recognize since you cannot hear the tone of the author!.Www@QuestionHome@Com