In the song, “Little Green”  Joni Mitchell uses symbolic imagery, familial characterization, and enhanced personification  to convey the hardship and struggles in her life due to fact that she gave up her child because she couldn’t take care of her.
         Mitchell uses symbolic imagery in her song,” Little Green” in such a way that makes the listeners feel her pain and helps them understand how hard it was for her to give up her child. One example of symbolic imagery is when she sings about good and bad times. “There’ll be icicles and birthday clothes and sometimes there’ll be sorrow. Another example of symbolic imagery is when reader tells about the process of giving up her child.”So you sign all the papers in the family name you’re sad and you’re sorry, but you’re not ashamed.” Mitchell was sad when she had to sign the papers to give her child away but she knew that it was best for her and her child. Last example of Mitchell using imagery is when she tells her father about her child.”So you write him a letter and say,” ‘her eyes are blue.”’ She tells her father about his new grandson.
         Also throughout the song, “Little Green” Mitchell uses familial characterization in her song. One example of    familial characterization is when she picks a name for her child.”Choose her a name she will answer to.” She picks a name for her child that she will answer to her the rest of her life.  Another example of familiar characterization is when she talks to her dad.”So you write him a letter and say...”This shows the bond between father and daughter, she writes to him even though she made a huge mistake. Last example of familiar characterization is when she gets a response from her father.”He sends you a poem and she’s lost to you.” He gives her a poem as a sign of optimism.

Besides symbolic imagery and familiar characterization, Joni Mitchell uses enhanced personification in her song,”Little Green.” First example of enhanced personification is when she compares her child to the moon.”Born with the moon in Cancer.” Her child had a bad destiny.” Next example of enhanced personification is when she compares nights and northern lights.”Like the night when the Northern lights perform.” Nights are very complex. The last example of enhanced personification is when she compares color and spring.”Like the the color of spring is born.”  The color of spring is green and the name of the song is little green therefore its a play on words to explain a bigger picture.