What you Will by Madison Cawein
The work explores the interplay between nature and human emotion through vivid imagery and sensory experiences. It is structured in three sections, each reflecting a different season and its impact on the speaker's feelings and perceptions. In the first section, the oppressive heat of summer creates a sense of weariness and stagnation. The imagery of parched fruit and struggling plants conveys a feeling of drought, both literal and metaphorical. The speaker's tongue feels heavy, mirroring the lethargy of the season. The second section shifts to the bounty of late summer and early autumn. The ripening fruits and the industrious reapers evoke a sense of vitality and joy. The speaker's mood lightens, and there is a celebration of abundance and life, contrasting sharply with the previous section's desolation. The final section depicts the harshness of winter. The cold, gray skies and biting winds create a stark atmosphere. Despite the chill, there is a sense of awakening as a goddess inspires the speaker, suggesting that even in the depths of winter, there is potential for warmth and creativity. Overall, the work captures the cyclical nature of the seasons and their profound influence on human emotions, illustrating how external environments can shape internal experiences.
By Madison Cawein · First published 1901 · Genre: Poetry, Nature Writing, Romanticism · 319 words
First lines
I. When the season was dry and the sun was hot And the hornet sucked gaunt on the apricot, And the ripe peach dropped to its seed a-rot, With a lean red wasp that stung and clung; When the hollyhocks, ranked in the garden-plot, More seed-pods had than blossoms, I wot, A weariness weighed on the tongue, That the drought of the season begot.
What this Textopian page supports
What you Will is listed on Textopian as a poem by Madison Cawein, dated 1901 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Madison Cawein
- Date: 1901 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Poetry, Nature Writing, Romanticism, Lyric, Descriptive
- Length: 319 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
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Genres
- Poetry — The work is structured in verse, utilizing rhythm and imagery typical of poetry.
- Nature Writing — The themes revolve around seasonal changes and natural imagery, reflecting a deep connection to the environment.
- Romanticism — The focus on emotion, nature, and individual experience aligns with Romantic literary themes.
- Lyric — The personal expression of feelings and thoughts through vivid imagery characterizes it as a lyric poem.
Tags
Poetry · Romance · Love · Death · Mortality · Fate · Free Will · Determination · Choice · Consequence · Morality · Ethics