Imagery Poetry 4- The Widow's Lament in Springtime

"Sorrow is my own yard." line 1

In this poem, the woman is clearly grieving the loss of her husband. In her mourning, she fails to see the beauty in her garden. It is like without her husband, nothing is as it was. I really feel bad for this woman; she seems to be very distraught over the situation. Because of her misery, she is unable to take pride in her garden like she used to. The bright yellow and red flowers appear bland to her now. I think this poem is sort of ironic in a way, because of the way the poet so vividly describes her garden. But, the women can only see a bland memory that has escaped from her. The beauty in her garden is masked by sorrow. Then, the woman's son makes some suggestion about "heavy woods in the distance." the poet doesn't describe this setting near as vividly as the garden. However, the woman sees this meadow as a clear path she must take. It seems to be the only thing she knows for sure. I think that the "distant meadow" represents the woman going to be with her husband. She thinks that it would be better not to live than to live without her husband. I think the irony is that what we, the readers, see so vividly is what is so unclear to the woman, but what is unclear to us, is what seems to be clear to her.