William Carlos Williams writes about American actions, feelings, and beliefs. The imagery of his poetry reflects the many facets of American life during the mid-1900's, an era of immigrants when farming, laboring in a factory, and working in small cities had been prevalent. Williams' is a poet who chooses his images carefully: American objects, landscapes, and people that are of common familiarity. The poems' language is simple, imitating the spoken word. The tone of his poetry echoes that of the everyday working person. The powerful poems resonate the stark reality of people who struggle with day-to-day life, still striving for dreams.
As an illustration, here are a few lines from his poem entitled "The Hunters in the Snow."
The over-all picture is winter
icy mountains
in the background the return
from the hunt it is toward evening
from the left
sturdy hunters lead in
their pack the inn-sign
hanging from
a broken hinge is a stag a crucifix
between his antlers the cold
inn yard
is deserted but for a huge bonfire
from: http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/willi...
The beginning presents a broad image: "[...] winter / icy mountains." Even if one has not walked on snow or mountains, one can feel the chill and steepness of the opening stanza. Readers identify with the season of winter. This season occurs in nearly three-quarters of the fifty states of the United States.
The second stanza reveals an American outdoor activity shared by those who seek to be one with nature as hunters. Traditionally, members of the hunting party include fathers, sons, uncles, brothers, grandfathers, nephews, and grandsons. Originally, hunting was still part of living, for the majority of the land was still graced in wilderness. Survival in the wild woods included hunting for food. Now, as the poem depicts, the hunt is mostly for trophies. The hunters enter an inn. This particular word choice enhances the image of a small town, which is one of Williams' purposeful intent. Readers find themselves immersed into the atmosphere of a town where everyone often knows everyone, for generations.
In the third stanza, readers discover that the hunt is evolving into a sport. A subtle change is occurring, just like the implicit changes are perpetuating within the small towns across the United States. The image of a stag leads readers to the idea of a prize. However, there is an image of a crucifix in the midst of the antlers. This is a long-standing symbol held dear by many Americans as the belief in a God is part of one's rights as an American.
As an illustration, here are a few lines from his poem entitled "The Hunters in the Snow."
The over-all picture is winter
icy mountains
in the background the return
from the hunt it is toward evening
from the left
sturdy hunters lead in
their pack the inn-sign
hanging from
a broken hinge is a stag a crucifix
between his antlers the cold
inn yard
is deserted but for a huge bonfire
from: http://www.americanpoems.com/poets/willi...
The beginning presents a broad image: "[...] winter / icy mountains." Even if one has not walked on snow or mountains, one can feel the chill and steepness of the opening stanza. Readers identify with the season of winter. This season occurs in nearly three-quarters of the fifty states of the United States.
The second stanza reveals an American outdoor activity shared by those who seek to be one with nature as hunters. Traditionally, members of the hunting party include fathers, sons, uncles, brothers, grandfathers, nephews, and grandsons. Originally, hunting was still part of living, for the majority of the land was still graced in wilderness. Survival in the wild woods included hunting for food. Now, as the poem depicts, the hunt is mostly for trophies. The hunters enter an inn. This particular word choice enhances the image of a small town, which is one of Williams' purposeful intent. Readers find themselves immersed into the atmosphere of a town where everyone often knows everyone, for generations.
In the third stanza, readers discover that the hunt is evolving into a sport. A subtle change is occurring, just like the implicit changes are perpetuating within the small towns across the United States. The image of a stag leads readers to the idea of a prize. However, there is an image of a crucifix in the midst of the antlers. This is a long-standing symbol held dear by many Americans as the belief in a God is part of one's rights as an American.
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