Poetic Devices Used in my Last Poem

As poems go, poetic devices are required.

I used four. I divided my poem into two halves. Each consist of three stanzas. The first half ("Where I'm From") is about past circumstances and fragments of memories from my childhood. The second half ("Where I'm Going") is about current circumstances and where I hope to go. I used an alternating rhyme scheme - along with some similes and metaphors.

Where I'm From

First Stanza: This talks about how I was born in winter in a city that has never been considered "good" (thus why I described the city as sort of ramshackle). "A family with no reason" comes from the point that I was not well-planned for.

Second Stanza: This is just about how I was constantly moving between apartments and houses with my mom. I constantly had nightmares when I was little, thus the last line.

Third Stanza: The "bittersweet  parade" is a metaphor for life.

Where I'm Going

Fourth Stanza:"Casting lots" stands for luck and fate (symbolism).

Fifth Stanza: "Rosin and string" is talking about playing the violin and how I hope maybe one day I can do more than just play it quietly in my room.

Sixth Stanza: "Hazel eyes like a ghost" is a simile. Life's cadets are the queens and pawns (as is stated in the poem). They're a metaphor for anyone. You, me, a stranger - anyone. We're all looking for what we love most (and in this case I was generally talking about happiness).

I hope this provided some insight.