Language

The language used by Raymond Carver in the poem “Lemonade” is informal and straightforward. Visually, the poem looks like a passage of prose and the language resembles the one used in a narrative. 

The language of the poem is also conversational and colloquial, reflecting the small-town setting and the intimate nature of the interactions. The dialogue between the characters is presented in a straightforward manner, capturing the natural rhythms and cadences of speech. This conversational tone adds authenticity and relatability to the narrative. For example, the dialogue between the speaker and Howard Sears introduces the story of Jim Sears losing his son:

… He tells me – when I ask, more 
out of small-town courtesy than anything, ‘How’s Jim?’ –
that his son lost Jim Jr. in the river last spring. 
Jim blames himself. ‘He can’t get over it,
neither,’ Mr. Sears adds. ‘Maybe he’s gone on to lose
his mind a little too,’ he adds, pulling on the bill
of his Sherwin-Williams cap.

Here, the dialogue helps readers take a look at how Howard Sears is dealing with the death of his grandson. His words help readers understand that he is worried about his son losing his mind. Although he also suffers becau...