The experience of illness
In "Cakewalk," the speaker compares his experience of HIV with that of another person. This other person "swears his HIV is better than mine," according to the speaker, and his experience is associated with imagery of "gold," suggesting it is more valuable. On the other hand, the experience of the speaker is associated with the images such as "lead," "copper," and "pennies," suggesting it might be seen as less valuable.
The Virus
In "The Virus," Brown uses imagery to depict the virus as being malicious and harmful. For example, the virus says that it wants the flowers "dying," and wants to "do the killing." The virus also tells its host that it wants him to "heed that I'm still here, just beneath your skin and in each organ." As such, the virus is connected to images of invasion, threat, and violation.
Hailstorm
In "Duplex," the speaker uses imagery to describe his father. For example, in the following passage, imagery is used to depict his father as a formidable and threatening presence:
"Steadfast and awful, my tall father
Hit hard as a hailstorm. He'd leave marks."
By comparing his father to a "hailstorm," the speaker of this poem alludes to physical violence, danger, and force, suggesting that his father was an intimidating and volatile character.
