Both poets use figurative language in their poem to suggest that growing up is difficult. The speaker in Polanco’s poem emphasizes the difficulty is worth the trouble if one can stay solely independent. In Wong’s poem shows that growing up is difficult and that it does not get better. In The poems, both the authors use a defiant tone to show their point of view. Polanco uses metaphors in his poem to exaggerate the things described in his poem. Some of these metaphors are “ugly weeds”, to “pampered flowers”, “harnessed in a pot of dirt”, “praised, handled, and plucked by greedy human hands”, and “if I could stand alone strong and free”. Polanco uses metaphors such as ugly weeds and pampered flowers to show the importance of staying independent while growing up, even if it means being shunned by others. These metaphors help the reader relate to the poem in a way they are more likely to understand than just saying the point. Metaphors also add more intensity than regular words pressing Polanco’s point even more. Wong uses metaphors in her poem to exaggerate her point. Some metaphors she used are “my grandfather taught himself to drive, rough, the way he learned to live”, “push the pedal, hard on the gas”, “rush up to 50”, and “who said the ride would be smooth?”. Wong uses these metaphors to show that growing up are difficult. These metaphors help the reader relate to the poem in a way they are more likely to understand than just saying the point. Metaphors also add more