William Carlos Williams: Poems
How is the imagery of the landscape represented in Williams’ poem?
lament in springtime poem
lament in springtime poem
The poem opens with the speaker, a widow, comparing her grief to her backyard in springtime. As the grass begins to grow, she notes her deep sadness at seeing this yearly burst of life without her husband. She then describes the blossoming of her plum tree and bushes in vivid detail, highlighting their white, yellow, and red coloration. She says that normally this natural beauty would have brought her joy, but now it only reminds her of absence. Finally, she recounts how her son mentioned a meadow where he saw a tree of white flowers. She states that she would like to go to that meadow, fall to the ground, and sink into the soft marsh around the flowers.