Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

APRIL INVENTORY, by WILLIAM DEWITT SNODGRASS Recitation by Author Poet Analysis Poet's Biography

"April Inventory" is a poem by William DeWitt Snodgrass, published in 1965 in his book "Heart's Needle." It is a personal reflection on the speaker's feelings and thoughts during the month of April.

Explanation:

The poem describes the various emotions and experiences that the speaker goes through during the month of April. The opening lines describe the change in weather from winter to spring, and the speaker's sense of anticipation and renewal.

The poem then delves into the speaker's personal life, describing his feelings of loneliness and isolation. He talks about his failed marriage and the distance between him and his children. The speaker also touches on the themes of aging and mortality, as he contemplates the inevitability of death and the fleeting nature of life.

Despite the somber tone of the poem, there is a sense of hopefulness and resilience throughout. The speaker acknowledges his hardships, but also recognizes the beauty and potential for growth in the world around him.

Poetic Elements:

Form: The poem consists of 10 stanzas of varying lengths, with no consistent rhyme scheme or meter.
Imagery: The poem makes use of vivid sensory imagery to describe the changing season and the speaker's emotions.
Metaphor: The image of the "April inventory" is used as a metaphor for the speaker's introspection and reflection.
Tone: The tone of the poem is introspective and melancholic, but also contains moments of hopefulness.

Conclusion:

"April Inventory" is a poignant reflection on the complex emotions and experiences that come with the changing of seasons. Through the speaker's personal struggles and moments of introspection, the poem offers a glimpse into the human experience and the resilience of the human spirit.

Poem Snippet:

"The green of the trees is one kind of singing;

the river's blueness another.

All are a part of a single thing:

a vast, green singing, a song

in which all things merge."