Hyperbole is "obvious extravagant exaggeration or overstatement... used figuratively to create humor or emphasis" (Kathleen Morner & Ralph Rausch, NTC's Dictionary of Literary Terms). Hyperbole is mostly used in love poems. This literary device is a wonderful way do express inner feelings through written or printed words.
Not necessarily hyperbole makes comparison insincere or fake. Rather, it is a nice figurative device to bring a dramatic effect, to emphasize on the certain topic and make the language ornamented. Same proclamations are applicable for the above poem. Moreover, the poem has a background which is related to Robert Burns' personal life. And this factual background would surely make you convinced that the hyperbole is only exaggeration if read as written cluster of letters, but is actually much more than that if thought with heart keeping the background in mind.
The famous Scottish poet Robert Burns (1759-1796) felt in love with Jean Armour who was from a conservative family, and their love affair was a very deep one. When Ms. Armour was found pregnant, her father outrageously discarded Robert, and disheartened Robert sailed to West Indies. To bear the expense of the voyage, he decided to publish his poems.
During his stay in Edinburgh, Robert Burns met printer James Johnson, who planned a project to print all of the folk songs in Scotland. This project enthralled Burns and embarked upon a journey throughout Scotland to collect as many folk songs as possible. Burns collected over 300 songs and wrote a few himself, including "A Red, Red Rose."
The poem 'A Red, Red Rose' was a tribute to his own love. He wonderfully depicted his deep, loyal love towards his beloved through the poem. His use of hyperbolic similes are the rich and true expressions of his love, the love for which he endured huge torments, but finally, Jean's father accepted him, and he married his beloved.
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