* Free Verse: The lyrics are written in a free verse style, with no traditional rhyme scheme or meter. This gives the song a conversational, everyday feel, mirroring the spoken word nature of the song's narrative.
* Imagery: Vega paints vivid pictures with her words, creating a clear image of the diner itself, the people inside, and the specific details of the scene.
* Examples: "I met a girl who sang the blues, and I asked her for some information, about a band that's playing..."
* "...the man behind the counter, with a cigarette that hangs out of his mouth..."
* Simile: While the song doesn't use many direct similes, the lines "The coffee smells like yesterday, and the light is coming in..." subtly compare the smell of coffee to the feeling of something stale, adding an element of melancholy.
* Metaphor: The diner itself can be interpreted as a metaphor for a place of refuge, a place where people gather and share stories. The song's lack of a definitive ending can also be seen as a metaphor for life's open-ended nature.
* Personification: The song uses personification in lines like "The coffee smells like yesterday", giving the coffee a human-like quality of having memories or feelings.
* Alliteration: The song uses alliteration for emphasis and sound effect, such as "the man behind the counter" and "the light is coming in".
* Repetition: The repetition of certain phrases and words, like "Tom's Diner" and "the man behind the counter", emphasizes the routine and familiarity of the setting and helps create a sense of rhythm.
* Juxtaposition: The song contrasts the mundane details of the diner with the emotional depth of the girl who sang the blues, creating a sense of realism and highlighting the unexpected moments of beauty in everyday life.
It's important to note that some literary devices are more subtle in "Tom's Diner" than in more overtly poetic works. The song's effectiveness lies in its simplicity and its ability to evoke emotion through everyday details. This makes it a great example of how even seemingly straightforward lyrics can be rich with literary techniques.