A metaphor is defined as figure of speech in which a word or phrase that ordinarily designates one thing is used to designate another, thus making an implicit comparison. Many great writers throughout time have used the essence of metaphors to enhance and add further meaning and essence to their texts, for example William Shakespeare. Sports Field uses a metaphorical structure to make further meaning from a simple children's sports carnival.
             Without taking into account the metaphorical reading of Sports Field, The dominant reading would suggest exactly what the title implies being an account of a sports carnival. From this literal view we see that the poem takes into account the day's proceedings of a sports carnival, for example running races. "Its lanes and tapes are set;"(Second stanza, fourth line), on a literal level this refers to the lanes being measured and set out for the children to run in a race but metaphorically this refers to an entirely different setting. By only taking the literal meaning in this poem it can be interpreted as dull and very lifeless in comparison to many other poems with more emphasis on literal meaning.
             Sports Field was more than likely written to be left up to the reader in what it means on a metaphorical level. Different reader may see the poem as just another boring piece of writing about a child's sports carnival but another may interpret it as a symbol of life. In comparison to the quote in paragraph two, the quote can be interpreted as a comparison to the way we all compete in life and how our destinies are marked out already for us and, like a running race, we all try to be the best. This can also be argued that it may mean something entirely different but the dominant perception of the poem would be more suitable due to people being able to see more evidence of the dominant perception in the reading of the poem rather than an alternate meaning.
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