Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Weeds" by William Everson offers a poignant glimpse into a moment shared by two individuals, likely lovers, set against the backdrop of nature and the imminent separation brought on by war. Through concise imagery and a focus on the natural environment, Everson captures the transient beauty of human connections, the resilience of nature, and the shadow of conflict that looms over personal moments of tenderness and vulnerability.

The poem begins with the couple seeking refuge in a "high meadow," using the natural landscape as a shield against the city's artificial light and, symbolically, the intrusion of the wider world's concerns and conflicts. The "towering grass" serves not only as their cover but also as a witness to their intimacy, a theme that is further developed through the interaction with "weeds" that mark their presence.

Everson's choice of "dock" and "mallow" as the agents of this interaction is significant. These are not flowers traditionally associated with beauty or romance; they are common, hardy plants that thrive in overlooked places. Their presence in the poem speaks to the resilience and persistence of life and love in less than ideal circumstances. The "dock hung in his hair" and "mallow marred with its subtle stain / Her rumpled skirt" serve as physical reminders of their time spent together, embedding their experience within the natural world.

The "heavy coat" mentioned in the poem carries its own weight of symbolism. Described as "Soldier's gear brought to such usage," it hints at the looming specter of war and the repurposing of martial items for moments of human warmth and connection. This coat, meant for protection in battle, becomes a means of preserving warmth and closeness in the chill of the night, a poignant juxtaposition of war's harshness with the tenderness of human relationships.

As the couple "dozed, / All cramped and cold," and eventually "went down in the dawn, / Limping under the early eyes," Everson portrays the inevitable return to reality and the individual journeys they must embark upon. Their departure "to the War" is marked not only by the physical imprints of their nocturnal hideaway—the "odor of weed and the weed stain" and "the harsh print of the earth"—but also by the emotional and psychological traces of their brief escape from the world's turmoil.

"Weeds" is a deeply moving exploration of the intersections between love, nature, and conflict. Everson masterfully uses the natural landscape as a canvas upon which the human story unfolds, highlighting the transient yet indelible marks that moments of connection leave on individuals and their environments. The poem is a testament to the power of love and nature to endure, even in the shadow of impending separation and the devastations of war.

POEM TEXT: https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_Residual_Years/JeBX8LZrdr8C?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22They+came+out+of+the+sun+undetected%22by+WILLIAM+EVERSON&pg=PA120&printsec=frontcover

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