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WILLOWS OF MASSACHUSETTS, by             Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography

Denise Levertov's "Willows of Massachusetts" captures the enduring resilience and unique beauty of willows in a November landscape. Through vivid and evocative imagery, Levertov explores themes of endurance, change, and the subtle interplay between light and cold as the willows stand out against the starkness of late autumn.

The poem begins with a striking description: "Animal willows of November in pelt of gold enduring when all else has let go all ornament and stands naked in the cold." This comparison of willows to animals with golden pelts imbues them with a sense of life and vitality, contrasting sharply with the surrounding trees that have shed their leaves and stand bare in the cold. The willows' golden leaves highlight their resilience and persistence in the face of changing seasons.

Levertov continues to paint a picture of the November landscape with the "Cold shine of sun on swamp water, cold caress of slant beam on bough, gray light on brown bark." These lines emphasize the chill of late autumn and the interplay of light on different elements of the landscape. The "cold shine" and "cold caress" personify the sun's rays, suggesting a gentle but detached interaction with the environment. The gray light on the brown bark further enhances the muted, subdued palette of the season, against which the willows' golden leaves stand out.

The poem then focuses on the willows' unique qualities: "Willows — last to relinquish a leaf, curious, patient, lion-headed, tense with energy, watching." Here, Levertov attributes human and animal characteristics to the willows, describing them as "curious, patient, lion-headed." The image of the willows as "lion-headed" suggests a regal, commanding presence, while "tense with energy" implies a latent vitality waiting to be released. The willows' enduring leaves and their watchful stance convey a sense of quiet strength and determination.

The poem concludes with the willows "watching the serene cold through a curtain of tarnished strands." This final image encapsulates the willows' interaction with their environment. The "curtain of tarnished strands" refers to the remaining leaves that create a barrier through which the willows observe the serene cold. This scene captures a moment of stillness and contemplation, with the willows standing as silent witnesses to the changing season.

In summary, "Willows of Massachusetts" by Denise Levertov is a beautifully descriptive poem that highlights the resilience and unique beauty of willows in the late autumn landscape. Through rich imagery and personification, Levertov contrasts the willows' enduring vitality with the starkness of their surroundings, celebrating their strength and persistence. The poem invites readers to appreciate the subtle interactions between light, cold, and nature, and to find beauty in the resilience of life amid change.


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