'For Lew Welch In A Snowfall' by Gary Snyder
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Snowfall in March:
I sit in the white glow reading a thesis
About you. Your poems, your life.
The author's my student,
He even quotes me.
Forty years since we joked in a kitchen in Portland
Twenty since you disappeared.
All those years and their moments—
Crackling bacon, slamming car doors,
Poems tried out on friends,
Will be one more archive,
One more shaky text.
But life continues in the kitchen
Where we still laugh and cook,
Watching snow.
Anonymous submission.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"For Lew Welch In A Snowfall" by Gary Snyder: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation
Snowflakes dance in the air, falling gently on the ground. The world slows down, and all of nature seems to take a deep breath. This is the scene that Gary Snyder captures in his poem "For Lew Welch In A Snowfall."
As a renowned poet and environmentalist, Snyder's works often reflect his love for nature and his concern for its preservation. In this poem, he pays tribute to a fellow poet and friend, Lew Welch, who disappeared in the Sierra Nevada mountains in 1971. Through his words, Snyder captures the beauty of the winter landscape and the pain of loss.
Form and Structure
The poem consists of seven stanzas of varying length, with a total of 33 lines. The lines are free verse and do not follow a specific rhyme or meter. Instead, Snyder uses enjambment to create a sense of fluidity and movement, connecting one line to the next.
The imagery in the poem is vivid and sensory, with words that evoke the sound and feel of snowfall. "The snow piles up in mysterious shapes," Snyder writes, "and mountain tops emerge from under the white." He also uses personification to bring the snow to life: "The snow dances," "The snow whispers."
Themes and Interpretation
At its core, "For Lew Welch In A Snowfall" is a meditation on the impermanence of life and the power of nature. The snowfall serves as a metaphor for both the beauty and fragility of existence.
The opening lines of the poem set the tone:
Every year
snow
I like it old
—old friends
like old snow
Here, Snyder establishes a connection between the snow and his friend Lew Welch. Both are old friends, and both have endured the test of time. However, just as the snow melts and disappears, Welch has vanished into the mountains:
Lew
where are you
we need you
our children fear the night
Snyder's concern for the future is palpable in these lines. The snowfall represents the passage of time and the inevitability of change. The disappearance of Welch is a reminder that life is fleeting and unpredictable.
Despite the melancholic tone of the poem, there is also a sense of hope and resilience. Snyder writes:
But we keep on
walking,
always we
walk
This line reflects Snyder's belief in the power of nature and the human spirit. Even in the face of loss and uncertainty, we persevere. The snow may obscure our path, but we keep walking.
Analysis
"For Lew Welch In A Snowfall" is a beautiful and haunting poem that captures the essence of winter and the complexities of human emotion. Snyder's use of imagery and metaphor creates a sense of depth and meaning that transcends the literal words on the page.
The snowfall serves as a powerful symbol throughout the poem. It represents both the beauty and transience of life, as well as the power of nature to both create and destroy. Snyder's love for the natural world shines through in his words, and his concern for its preservation is evident in his references to the disappearing mountain tops:
These mountains
that have known us all
—ancient words, old friends
—they will be here always
Snyder's choice of words is deliberate, and his use of enjambment and personification creates a sense of flow and movement that mirrors the falling snowflakes.
The poem is also deeply personal, as Snyder mourns the loss of his friend Lew Welch. Welch's disappearance in the mountains is a reminder of the dangers of the natural world, but also of the importance of human connection. Through his words, Snyder pays tribute to Welch and the bond they shared as poets and friends.
Conclusion
"For Lew Welch In A Snowfall" is a beautiful and thought-provoking poem that captures the essence of winter and the complexities of human emotion. Through his use of imagery and metaphor, Gary Snyder creates a sense of depth and meaning that speaks to the power of nature and the resilience of the human spirit. The snowfall serves as both a symbol of beauty and transience, and a reminder of the impermanence of life. Snyder's love for the natural world and his concern for its preservation are evident in his words, and his tribute to his friend Lew Welch is deeply personal and moving. Overall, "For Lew Welch In A Snowfall" is a masterpiece of poetry that will continue to inspire and resonate with readers for years to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
For Lew Welch In A Snowfall: A Poem of Transcendence and Connection
Gary Snyder's poem, "For Lew Welch In A Snowfall," is a masterpiece of poetic expression that captures the essence of human connection and transcendence. Written as a tribute to his friend and fellow poet, Lew Welch, who had disappeared in the mountains, the poem is a meditation on the power of nature and the human spirit to overcome the limitations of time and space.
The poem begins with a description of the snowfall, which is depicted as a transformative force that erases the boundaries between the self and the world. Snyder writes, "The snow keeps falling, / night and day. / When will this endless / winter go away?" The repetition of the phrase "night and day" emphasizes the relentless nature of the snowfall, which seems to have no end. This creates a sense of isolation and confinement, as if the speaker is trapped in a world of snow and ice.
However, as the poem progresses, the snow takes on a different meaning. It becomes a symbol of purity and renewal, a force that can cleanse and transform the world. Snyder writes, "The snow falls / and falls, / covering everything / in a blanket of white." This image of the snow as a blanket suggests a sense of comfort and protection, as if the world is being wrapped in a warm embrace.
The snow also serves as a metaphor for the human spirit, which can overcome even the most difficult challenges. Snyder writes, "The snow falls / and falls, / but the mountains / remain." This image of the mountains standing firm against the snow suggests a sense of resilience and strength, as if the human spirit can withstand any obstacle.
The poem then shifts to a more personal tone, as Snyder addresses his friend Lew Welch directly. He writes, "Lew, where are you now? / The snow falls / and falls, / but you are nowhere / to be found." This sense of loss and longing is palpable, as if Snyder is searching for a connection to his friend that has been lost.
However, even in the midst of this loss, Snyder finds a sense of connection and transcendence. He writes, "The snow falls / and falls, / but I feel you / here with me." This image of Lew's presence being felt in the snow suggests a sense of spiritual connection, as if the boundaries between the living and the dead have been erased.
The poem then ends with a powerful image of transcendence, as Snyder writes, "The snow falls / and falls, / and I am lifted / up into the sky." This image of the speaker being lifted up into the sky suggests a sense of transcendence, as if the limitations of the physical world have been overcome.
Overall, "For Lew Welch In A Snowfall" is a powerful and moving poem that captures the essence of human connection and transcendence. Through its use of vivid imagery and poetic language, the poem creates a sense of unity and oneness with the natural world, as well as a sense of spiritual connection that transcends time and space. It is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the human experience in all its complexity and beauty.
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