Wind Elegy by Sara Teasdale (1920)
The poem reflects on loss and the passage of time, emphasizing the contrast between nature's continuity and the personal grief of the speaker. The wind serves as a metaphor for the unseen and unacknowledged sorrow that accompanies death. While life in the natural world persists—sunshine, sowing of fields, and the mating of sparrows—the speaker feels a profound emptiness due to the absence of a loved one. The speaker hears the wind in the trees planted by the deceased, which symbolizes the lasting impact of the person's life and the memories tied to them. The imagery of nature awakening with the changing seasons highlights the inevitability of life moving forward, yet the speaker remains anchored in their grief. The wind's whispering serves as a reminder of the departed, suggesting that while the world continues to thrive, the emotional void left behind is deeply felt. As the poem progresses, the speaker grapples with the duality of existence—life's beauty juxtaposed with personal sorrow. The natural elements become a backdrop for the speaker's internal struggle, illustrating how the external world can seem indifferent to individual loss. The speaker's connection to the deceased is palpable, as they find solace in the memories associated with the places and things that remain. Ultimately, the work encapsulates the theme of enduring love and remembrance amidst the relentless march of time. The speaker's reflections reveal a deep sense of longing and the recognition that while the world may move on, the bond with the lost individual remains a significant part of their identity. The poem concludes with a poignant acknowledgment of the enduring nature of grief, suggesting that the speaker's sorrow is as much a part of them as the memories of the one they mourn.
By Sara Teasdale · First published 1920 · Genre: Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry, Elegy · 90 words
First lines
(W. E. W.)
Only the wind knows he is gone, / Only the wind grieves, / The sun shines, the fields are sown, / Sparrows mate in the eaves;
But I heard the wind in the pines he planted / And the hemlocks overhead, / "His acres wake, for the year turns, / But he is asleep," it said.
What this Textopian page supports
Wind Elegy is listed on Textopian as a poem by Sara Teasdale, dated 1920 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Poem
- Author: Sara Teasdale
- Date: 1920 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Lyric Poetry, Nature Poetry, Elegy, Romanticism, Modernism
- Length: 90 words
- Structure: 1 section, 3 paragraphs
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- Work identity for Wind Elegy by Sara Teasdale
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Genres
- Lyric Poetry — The poem expresses personal emotions and reflections, characteristic of lyric poetry.
- Nature Poetry — The imagery of wind, fields, and trees highlights the connection between nature and human experience.
- Elegy — The poem mourns the loss of a person, fitting the traditional form of an elegy.
- Romanticism — The themes of nature and emotion align with Romantic literary ideals.
Tags
elegy · loss · grief · nature · wind · memory · mourning · seasons · solitude · reflection · transience · life