Figurative language, specifically metaphors, in Anne Sexton's "Courage"?

Question

I am writing a paper for my English class, and I need to analyze Sexton's "Courage," specifically looking for metaphors and other uses of figurative language that helps to get her point accross. Can anyone help me out? Thanks!

Courage

It is in the small things we see it. 1
The child's first step, 2
as awesome as an earthquake. 3
The first time you rode a bike, 4
wallowing up the sidewalk. 5
The first spanking when your heart 6
went on a journey all alone. 7
When they called you crybaby 8
or poor or fatty or crazy 9
and made you into an alien, 10
you drank their acid 11
and concealed it. 12

Later, 13
if you faced the death of bombs and bullets 14
you did not do it with a banner, 15
you did it with only a hat to 16
cover your heart. 17
You did not fondle the weakness inside you 18
though it was there. 19
Your courage was a small coal 20
that you kept swallowing. 21
If your buddy saved you 22
and died himself in so doing, 23
then his courage was not courage, 24
it was love; love as simple as shaving soap. 25

Later,
if you have endured a great despair, 26
then you did it alone, 27
getting a transfusion from the fire, 28
picking the scabs off your heart, 29
then wringing it out like a sock. 30
Next, my kinsman, you powdered your sorrow, 31
you gave it a back rub 32
and then you covered it with a blanket 33
and after it had slept a while 34
it woke to the wings of the roses 35
and was transformed. 36

Later, 37
when you face old age and its natural conclusion 38
your courage will still be shown in the little ways, 39
each spring will be a sword you'll sharpen, 40
those you love will live in a fever of love, 41
and you'll bargain with the calendar 42
and at the last moment 43
when death opens the back door 44
you'll put on your carpet slippers 45
and stride out. 46

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

the first metaphor is in line 3 comparing a childs step to an eathquake

im sure that you can find the others - just look for two things that are unrelated being compared