* Emphasizes the stillness: The "s" sound is inherently a quiet and hissing sound, reflecting the immobility of the speaker, whose sap will never stir. The alliteration highlights the lack of movement and life.
* Creates a sense of finality: The repeated "s" sound echoes the word "still," implying a fixed, unchanging state. The speaker is frozen in their death, unable to be influenced by the forces of nature.
* Highlights the speaker's resignation: The repetition of the "s" sound creates a somber, almost melancholic tone, reflecting the speaker's acceptance of their fate. It conveys a sense of finality and resignation, emphasizing that there will be no rebirth, no change.
Overall, the alliteration in this poem is an effective literary device that creates a sense of stillness, finality, and resignation, reflecting the speaker's death and the absence of life.
It's important to note that this poem is often attributed to the American poet, Emily Dickinson, though its authorship is uncertain.