Edward Hirch's poem Execution touches on various thought-provoking and touching topics such as cancer. Hirsch does this by using a common sport loved by Americans, football, to make connections with the reader. Within the poem Hirsch begins to build a character for us who was the football coach who was diagnosed with cancer. Hirsch used a wide range of literary strategies in his poem to portray the coach as a man who has always been a strong fighter and strives for "perfect execution" and victory in life. The coach's life changes dramatically when he loses the battle with his opponent, Cancer, who is shattering his hopes and hitting him with Cancer's "deadly... power." Feeling inferior to the cancer, the coach devised a "web of options and countermeasures, explosions and sweeps..." in a futile attempt to defeat the cancer. The coach knew his plans were "flawless" and made sure to use every strategy available, but just like other cancer patients who try everything they can to survive, most of the time it's not enough. In the coach's case, the game against cancer was already lost and all that remained of him was a "shaky... stunned by the disease" man. Although winning his battle would have been the ideal ending, the author's aim was to demonstrate that Cancer is tireless and that sometimes in life some battles will be lost, no matter how long and hard the fight is. Diction is used throughout the poem Running to effectively portray the coach's character throughout the story and the battle he is having with cancer. In the story, the game of football was used with an extended symbolic meaning, representing the game of life. At the beginning of the story Hirsch used some phrases......middle of paper......ming because in some points there is hope for the coach but then the reader realizes how difficult the battle against the cancer and how most individuals have little chance of surviving. Which then creates a sense of reality, demonstrating that not everyone wins in life, no matter if it's football or an illness. Hirsch then links reality back to something that is somehow unreal to humans until we experience it, death. This incredible combination creates a mood that dominates the reader throughout the entire piece until the end, which is loss of hope and sadness. The poem has been put together beautifully into an extended metaphor, which finalizes the impact of the author's purpose on the reader. Hirsch's use of language made the poem very real and makes people grasp some reality and realize that in life not everyone can win.