Here's how it works:
* The poem itself is a metaphor. It's not just a poem about youth, it's a metaphor for the potential and responsibility of the Filipino people. The young Filipinos are likened to the morning sun, a budding flower, and a bird ready to take flight – all symbols of hope, progress, and potential.
* Within the poem, various other metaphors appear:
* "Like the morning sun, you are the hope of our fatherland..." This compares the young Filipinos to the rising sun, signifying their potential to bring light and progress to the nation.
* "...and like a flower in full bloom, you are the pride of our race." The young Filipinos are likened to a blooming flower, representing their beauty, potential, and the pride they inspire.
* "...fly, like a bird soaring high in the sky." Here, the young Filipinos are compared to birds, signifying their freedom, ambition, and the ability to reach great heights.
These metaphors are crucial to the poem's message, as they not only evoke imagery but also convey the central themes of hope, responsibility, and the potential for greatness that Rizal believed in for the Filipino people.
Other figures of speech used in the poem:
* Simile: The use of "like" or "as" to compare two things directly (e.g., "like the morning sun," "like a flower in full bloom").
* Personification: Giving human qualities to non-human entities (e.g., "Fatherland," "race").
* Alliteration: The repetition of consonant sounds (e.g., "fly, like a bird").
* Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds (e.g., "hope of our fatherland").
* Imagery: Vivid language creating mental pictures (e.g., "morning sun," "budding flower," "soaring bird").
While these other figures of speech are present, the central and most impactful figure of speech is undoubtedly the extended metaphor that runs through the entire poem. It is this metaphor that allows Rizal to effectively convey his message and create such a powerful and lasting piece of literature.