Use of Nature in Poetry

Poetry Poets use many ways when they want to communicate something using poems. Poems are used as a means of passing ideas, information, and expression of feelings. This has made the poets use natural things and images that people can relate to so that they can make these poems understandable. The most common forms of writing that the poets use are figurative language for example imagery and metaphors. In addition, the poets use the natural landscape in their attempt to explore philosophical questions. Therefore, this essay will explore the forms that the poets have used in writing poems using the natural landscape. Shelley in his poem ‘Ode to the West Wind’ has used similes in his poem. He states that “the leaves dead are driven like ghosts from an enchanter fleeing.” He also states that “the winged seeds where they lie cold and low each like a corpse within its grave.” As observed from these examples, the poets will use these techniques to assist in the easier interpretation of the poem. The poets also use metaphors when writing poems. Metaphors refer to the use of certain words to mean otherwise in the context of the poem. However, metaphors are sometimes hidden in the poem such that they require the reader to figure out their existence in the poem. This will be easy when the poet employs a physical environment that is well-understood by the reader. In addition, metaphors will strengthen the ideas that the poet wants to pass across. Metaphors will therefore make it easier for the readers to interpret and understand the meaning that the poet intended to communicate. Shelley used a metaphor in his poem where he states ‘…Pestilence-stricken multitudes’. He states this to indicate to the reader that he is not just addressing a pile of leaves. Therefore, this helps to understand the deeper meaning of the poem.