"Thunderstorms" by William Henry Davies: Exploring the Tumultuous Nature of the Poet's Mind through the Metaphor of Thunderstorms
"Thunderstorms" is a poem by William Henry Davies that explores the tumultuous nature of the poet's mind through the metaphor of thunderstorms. The poem expresses the contrast between the poet's troubled and silent thoughts and the liberating effect of words. Davies draws a comparison between his own mind, as a writer, and the vast expanse of the sky. He employs the metaphor of dark thunderclouds to represent the thoughts that fill his mind, which weigh heavily upon him and create a sense of oppressiveness. However, he also recognizes that it is these very clouds that eventually give way to rain, enabling plants to grow and flowers to bloom.
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| Davies in 1913 (by Alvin Langdon Coburn) |
The first stanza portrays the poet's mind as stormy and burdened, comparing it to thunderstorms that brood for hours. The thunderstorms represent the poet's inner turmoil, suggesting a sense of heaviness and unease. The "drooping flowers" and "sulking, silent birds" symbolize the poet's thoughts, which are stifled and lack vitality. The use of imagery conveys a feeling of stagnation and sadness:
That brood for heavy hours:
Until they rain me words,
My thoughts are drooping flowers
And sulking, silent birds."
Next, the poet's tone shifts as he invites the dark thunderstorms to continue brooding and subsequently release their rain. The rain becomes a metaphor for words, suggesting that the poet's thoughts find expression and clarity through language. With the arrival of words, the poet's thoughts transform into "dancing flowers" and "joyful singing birds." This transformation signifies the liberation of the poet's mind and the rejuvenation of his thoughts:
And brood your heavy hours;
For when you rain me words,
My thoughts are dancing flowers
And joyful singing birds."
The final stanza of the poem suggests that the end result of this creative process is a work that brings pleasure to its audience. Just as the sun emerges after the rain, illuminating the world with brightness, the story or poem crafted from the writer's transformed thoughts becomes a source of joy and delight for those who read or experience it.
In essence, "Thunderstorms" encapsulates Davies's perspective on the creative process. It portrays the initial burden of heavy thoughts, which are then transmuted through the act of writing into something beautiful and uplifting. The poem highlights the transformative power of words, illustrating how the expression of one's inner turmoil can lead to the creation of a work that resonates with others and brings them joy.
The poem farther explores the cathartic power of language in channeling and transforming the poet's emotions. It suggests that the release of words has a therapeutic effect, allowing the poet to transcend his inner turmoil and find solace in the act of expression. The contrasting imagery of withering and flourishing elements emphasizes the transformative nature of words, bringing life and vitality to the poet's thoughts.
Overall, "Thunderstorms" broods over the complexities of the poet's mind, capturing the weight of inner struggles and the transformative power of words to release and uplift the spirit.
Note: William Henry Davies (1871-1940) was an English writer known for his poetry and prose. He had a wide circle of literary friends, including G.B. Shaw, who wrote the preface to his Autobiography of a Super-Tramp (1908), and Edward Thomas. In 1963, his Complete Poems were published, featuring an introduction by Oshert Sitwell. Davies's poems reflect his keen and profound connection to the natural world.
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