Personification

Personification is giving human characteristics to non-human things. For example, "The wind whispered through the trees" or "The sun smiled down on us."

Unlike anthropomorphism, where non-human things fully behave as humans, personification simply lends a human quality to create a vivid image. The wind doesn't literally whisper — but describing it that way gives the reader an immediate sense of a gentle, quiet breeze.

Personification is one of the most commonly used literary devices in poetry. It makes abstract concepts feel tangible and creates emotional connections between readers and the non-human world around them.