"In the Park" opens by introducing its main character: an unnamed woman who "sits in the park" wearing "out of date" clothes. From the start, the poem uses a number of different poetic devices, particularly those emphasizing sound, in order to clue readers in about the woman's unhappy situation.
Perhaps most importantly, a caesura splits the line into two separate sentences and immediately disrupts any potential for regular rhythm. This is an example of parataxis, which combines with the lines' short syllables to create a feeling of abruptness, a distinct lack of musicality. The poem does not allow readers to settle in, but instead keeps them on edge.
These two sentences are also full of assonance and consonance, which invite readers to pay attention to the repetition of both sharp and sibilant sounds, and the effect these have on the poem's atmosphere. The hard /t/ in "sits," "out," and "date" creates a bitter, tense feeling, while the subtle sibilance of "she," "sits," and "clothes" creates an ominous hush or hiss, suggesting all is not quite right. The assonant repetition of the short /i/ sound in "sits" and "in" and /a/ sound in "park" and "are" lends the line a sonic consistency, but that consistency feels claustrophobic rather than pleasant thanks to the short, staccato syllables of each word.
Finally, the content of the lines themselves indicate that all is not well. The woman, who is otherwise unidentified, is described only as wearing "out of date" clothing. Coupled with the ominous undertones of the line's sound and language, the implication is that these "out of date" clothes also carry a negative association.