To An Athlete Dying Young
... Housman’s poem, “To An Athlete Dying Young,” the idea that to complete your 15 minutes of fame means that you will be forgotten is shown through the use of imagery, diction, and strong metaphors. “To An Athlete Dying Young” takes a situation that typically has negative connotations and conveys it in a positive light. ... However, this is paralleled in the second stanza by the description of the young athlete being lifted high on the shoulders of the townspeople serving as pallbearers to his funeral.