Author: Ella Wheeler Wilcox

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    The fields were bleak and sodden. Not a wing
    Or note enlivened the depressing wood,
    A soiled and sullen, stubborn snowdrift stood
    Beside the roadway. Winds came muttering
    Of storms to be, and brought the chilly sting
    Of icebergs in their breath. Stalled cattle mooed
    Forth plaintive pleadings for the earth's green food.
    No gleam, no hint of hope in anything.

    The sky was blank and ashen, like the face
    Of some poor wretch who drains life's cup too fast.
    Yet, swaying to and fro, as if to fling
    About chilled Nature its lithe arms of grace,
    Smiling with promise in the wintry blast,
    The optimistic Willow spoke of spring.

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Type of Poem: Sonnet

Date Written:

Date Published:

Language: English

Keywords: Public Domain

Source: Public Domain Collection

Publisher:

Rights/Permissions: Public Domain

Comments/Notes: This poem is a vivid portrayal of a harsh and dismal winter landscape, using evocative imagery to create a sense of desolation and despair. The bleak and barren fields, the lifeless wood, the stubborn snowdrift, and the aching pleas of stalled cattle all contribute to a sense of oppressive gloom. The tone is somber and melancholic, with the muttering winds and the ashen sky reflecting the harshness of the winter season.

The poem does not follow a traditional rhyming scheme, rather it seems to draw on free verse to communicate its themes. It is in the closing lines that the poem reveals its ultimate theme of hope and resilience. The “optimistic Willow,” despite the harsh conditions, continues to sway and smile, symbolizing the promise of spring and renewal. This serves as a powerful contrast to the earlier despairing imagery and brings a sense of balance and hope to the overall poem. The use of personification in the poem is also a standout literary device, imbuing the natural elements with human qualities, making the landscape more relatable and emotionally resonant.