Imagery:
* Visual: Slessor paints vivid pictures with his use of words, evoking the desolate beach scene: "the sand, the sea, the shells", "sun-bleached bones"
* Auditory: The poem uses onomatopoeia to create the sound of the waves: "the sea whispers" and the "the sea-wind"
* Tactile: The reader can almost feel the "rough sand" and "cold sea-water"
Figurative Language:
* Simile: "The waves withdraw, like slow, reluctant lovers"
* Metaphor: "The sky's the colour of the drowned man's eyes", "The sand is like a shroud"
Symbolism:
* The beach: Represents the vastness of the ocean and the fragility of human life.
* The dead soldiers: Represent the cost of war and the loss of youth.
* The sea: Represents the indifferent nature of the universe and the cycle of life and death.
Structure and Rhythm:
* Free verse: This allows for flexibility and creates a natural, conversational flow.
* Short lines: Creates a sense of urgency and immediacy.
* Repetition: Emphasizes key ideas, such as "The sea whispers" and "the sun-bleached bones".
Diction and Tone:
* Simple, direct language: Creates a sense of immediacy and realism.
* Melancholy and elegiac tone: Conveys the sadness and loss of the poem's subject matter.
Other notable techniques:
* Juxtaposition: Contrasting images, such as "the sun-bleached bones" with "the sea whispers"
* Personification: "The sea whispers" and "The sky's the colour of the drowned man's eyes"
These poetic techniques work together to create a powerful and moving poem that captures the tragedy of war and the fragility of human life.