21/07/2016

SpringandAll[Bytheroadtothecontagioushospital]

PublishedonAcademyofAmericanPoets(https://www.poets.org)
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SpringandAll[Bytheroadtothecontagioushospital]
I
Bytheroadtothecontagioushospital
underthesurgeoftheblue
mottledcloudsdrivenfromthe
northeastacoldwind.Beyond,the
wasteofbroad,muddyfields
brownwithdriedweeds,standingandfallen
patchesofstandingwater
thescatteringoftalltrees
Allalongtheroadthereddish
purplish,forked,upstanding,twiggy
stuffofbushesandsmalltrees
withdead,brownleavesunderthem
leaflessvines
Lifelessinappearance,sluggish
dazedspringapproaches
Theyenterthenewworldnaked,
cold,uncertainofall
savethattheyenter.Allaboutthem
thecold,familiarwind
Nowthegrass,tomorrow
thestiffcurlofwildcarrotleaf
Onebyoneobjectsaredefined
Itquickens:clarity,outlineofleaf
Butnowthestarkdignityof
entranceStill,theprofoundchange
hascomeuponthem:rooted,they
gripdownandbegintoawaken

Credit:
Copyright1962byWilliamCarlosWilliams.UsedwithpermissionofNewDirectionsPublishing
Corporation.Allrightsreserved.Nopartofthispoemmaybereproducedinanyformwithoutthe
writtenconsentofthepublisher.
Author:

WilliamCarlosWilliams

https://www.poets.org/print/node/47745

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21/07/2016

SpringandAll[Bytheroadtothecontagioushospital]

Poet,novelist,essayist,andplaywrightWilliamCarlosWilliamsisoftensaidtohavebeenoneof
theprincipalpoetsoftheImagistmovement.
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DatePublished:
1962
SourceURL:https://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/springandallroadcontagioushospital

https://www.poets.org/print/node/47745

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