To Waken an Old Lady by William Carlos Williams - Literature Essay Sample

To waken an old lady is a poem written by William Carlos Williams mainly focusing on old age. He uses lots of comparisons from cheeping birds to flocks to describe the stages of old age. This poem uses a lot of figurative languages to convey its message. Some of the forms used in this poem include metaphors, imagery, and personification. Williams extensively uses metaphors in his poem to pass the message to his audience. The title of the poem is a metaphor that shows how and the old lady finally realizes that her life has come to an end. The title provides the reader with an insight of what the poem talks about. It also links those ideas of the author with the messages outlined in the poem. Some of the metaphors used in the poem include old age is a flight of small birds, is used to portray and bring the message about happiness. Small cheeping birds do not come out on gloomy seasons but those that are filled with fun and happiness. On the other hand, old age signifies a graceful period that is filled with happy memories and moments. Old people are vibrant, happy and entertaining just like small birds.

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The other metaphor in the poem signifies the end of things. Skimming bare trees above a snow glaze the author of the poem uses this metaphor to show that old age signifies an end to an interesting life. He uses bare trees to show that the trees are not covered with their usual vibrancy of leaves and snow to show the coldness and gloom that comes with old age. The snow is symbolically used to depict a cold season in life one that carries no hope for anyone. Bare trees are an empty sight to look at they give no hope to the future since they have nothing to bring forth. The poem talks of the health complications people face during their old age. Old people despite their jovial moods face a lot of medical issues that leave them frail and weak.

William says while the birds are flying they are beaten by dark winds showing that the birds do not have a smooth flying environment. Through their way, they have to combat these winds just like old people have to combat diseases in their old age. Broken seed husks as used in the poem refer to the weak bodies of old people. Aging makes people's body become frail and thus the broken seed husks metaphor is a direct comparison. On harsh weed stalks the flock has rested is another metaphor William Carlos employs to signify that people in old age finally accept their situations. It is not comfortable as it is filled with pain, sadness sorrow and medical problems but they have to make peace with the situation. The phrase also shows that old age does not offer an alternative choice but a resting on harsh weed stalks. It also shows that the in old age people are tired of fighting the dark wind and can only find comfort in their present life situations.

William also uses the form of personification to help the audience figuratively understand the poem. For example, William in the poem says that the birds are buffeted by a dark wind. This phrase gives the wind human-like abilities to pummel the birds in the course of their flight. Additionally, William in his poem successfully creates the illusion of thought in the mind of the audience. William in this poem provides vivid and clear descriptions about old age, making one see like the author was experiencing this transition in their life. This poem makes the author create a personal interaction with the audience. It is easy to identify and relate to the poem since old age is something people, experience right from the day of birth it is inevitable just like death. The poem also creates a reflective mood in the mind of the audience since the descriptions in this poem look like they come from someone who is experiencing old age. While reading the poem the poem the reader feels like they are experiencing this transitions themselves. The attention of the reader is captured and it is easy to realize that old age is full of complications.

Imagery is another form of figurative language used in the poem to effectively deliver the message of old age. William speaks of small cheeping birds skimming on bare trees above snow glaze, making the audience imagine the vision of these birds in their head. This particular phrase apart from creating images in the mind of the reader also produces a sad tone touching on the readers emotions. Old age brings with it a feeling of hopelessness, misery and loneliness and some of the phrases in the poem best describe this phase. When reading the last part of the poem ones sees images of broken seed husks lying on the snow. A hopeless image eliciting emotions of sorrow from the reader. Phrases like bare trees, broken seed husks, and dark winds effectively deliver the distinct feelings old people face.

This poems rhythm starts with the description of life in old age that is interrupted by a question. But what? The question is strategically placed in the poem to make a break from the thoughts of description. The question also transitions the reader from just describing old age to reflect on what happens next after this. After the birds have been buffeted by a dark wind what comes next but a reality of a final rest on harsh weed stalks. This question in the middle of the poem prepares the reader for what is coming next with a lot of suspense and gloom. After the significant pause the author carries on to describe the end of old age and that is death.

Life is like a small flight of cheeping birds full of hope and zeal to conquer days and seasons. When William says that old age is like a flight of cheeping birds he refers to the inevitable growth of humans as flight. However, people face different and various problems along the way like the dark wind that buffets the birds. Even though the birds try to fight these hardships, eventually they become worn out tired and frail. This is similar to what old age does to humans, people become frail, their bodies and minds weak from diseases and health problems that are associated with old age. This situation prepares one psychologically to the end that is coming and that is death. No matter how we try to hold on to memories and life death is inevitable as shown in the poem. It is an end that we must face and William uses a simple language filled with numerous metaphors to outline these transitions of life. Even though William tries to use metaphors to hide the real meaning of the poem, the message itself is chilling and true.