Dim, doily, draping

"Filling Station" by Elizabeth Bishop is highly direct from the beginning; the reader can immediately envision the filling station just from the first line ("Oh, but it is dirty!") The first stanza only details an oily, black, dirty setting but as the poem progresses, she introduces homey aspects (such as the porch, the wicker sofa, the dog, etc.) and paints them as being grease covered as well, providing a scene and general feeling of a place that's dirty yet comforting (if that makes sense). The parallel of filthy carelessness with attentiveness, especially the part where she is analyzing the plant and how someone cares for it, depicts a sense of comfort and optimism ("Somebody loves us all.")  The greasiness and oiliness are what come to mind the most when envisioning the setting, mostly from her frequent use of the word "oil" and "grease" but also from incorporating the "oi" sound in other words (doily, embroidered) and the alliteration of the letter "d" (dim, doily, draping) as if to implement the word "dirty" in the reader's mind. I also liked "The automatic garage-door opener" and "The absent tenant's electricity..." because the author goes beyond these homes and into the surroundings they are in, giving the reader a full vision of the home, the town, the weather, everything; it is all encompassing and appeals to various senses.