Glossary of Poetic Terms

A number of medieval European poems begin with this Latin phrase meaning “Where are they?” By posing a series of questions about the fate of the strong, beautiful, or virtuous, these poems meditate on the transitory nature of life and the inevitability of death. The phrase can now refer to any poetry that treats these themes. One of the most famous ubi sunt poems is “Ballade des dames du temps jadis” (“Ballad of the Ladies of Times Past”) by medieval French poet François Villon, with its refrain “Where are the snows of yesteryear?” See also Thomas Nashe’s “Adieu, Farewell, Earth’s Bliss,” Sir Philip Sidney’s “Astrophel and Stella CII: ‘Where be the roses gone, which sweetened so our eyes?’”, and “Where Are the Waters of Childhood?” by Mark Strand.

Understatement is a mode or figure of speech that describes something in a way that reduces its importance and may make it seem less important or serious than it actually is. Understatement is the opposite of overstatement or hyperbole, and its conscious use to craft an effect in literature or speech is also described as litotes. 

For instance, the title of Aimee Nezhukumatathil's poem, “The Woman Who Turned Down a Date with a Cherry Farmer,” is an example of understatement. The title implies a simple action of turning down a date, but the poem delves into the complexities of this decision and reflects on the nuances of human relationships, desire, and the paths not taken.