An Analysis of Poems 585 and 754Emily Dickinson's use of poetic diction in poems 585 and 754 brings to life two inanimate objects, a train and a gun, which they both perform actions that are useful to man. While these elements cannot act alone, Dickinson's diction provides them with movements, characteristics, and feelings of their own. In poem 585, the daily journey of a train is given meaning beyond that of a cold iron machine when Dickinson describes its animal qualities to show its strength, stubbornness, and perseverance. In poem 754, a gun is depicted as a protective and devoted servant. In both of these poems, Emily Dickinson uses diction to give the train and gun the characteristics of animals to explain their behavior and feelings and to show how man uses them to his advantage and to achieve his goals. In poem 585, Dickinson's diction reveals traits of hunger and determination. In the first stanza, "I like to see him travel the Miles--/And lick the Valleys--/And stop to feed at the tanks" (ll. 1-3) describes the train as an animal running hungrily over great distances, devouring the land as it goes, stopping occasionally to eat more substantial food to survive and continue. Although it is capable of performing powerful feats of transportation, the train needs nourishment, just like humans and animals do. With the following lines, Dickinson shows the train's determination to achieve its goal: "And, arrogant, peer/In Shanties—by the Sides of Roads—And then a cava pare/To fit its ribs" (ll. 6-9 ). These lines also suggest stubborn determination. Even if the train were to crawl and cut through hundreds of meters of solid rock, nothing would stop this metal animal, not even a huge mountain. The train can travel... middle of paper... Why would the master need protection? In both poems, Emily Dickinson uses diction to provide the reader with the opportunity to see inanimate objects with some human qualities, first in a determined and powerful train and then in a devoted and unfeeling gun. Although these are inanimate objects, the reader can get an idea of ​​the influences and contributions they make to humans. The train had a great impact on travel by allowing it to cover large distances in shorter times. It seems that this iron horse can take man anywhere. In Dickinson's day the power of trains was a marvel in itself. With the rifle the man has control of something very powerful, something that can kill but cannot be killed. With her clever and interesting choice of words, Dickinson brings to light the extraordinary strength of one object, the train, and the frightening power of another, the gun..