Powerful, Not Beautiful: Nature as Presented in "Winter Swans," "Hill Fort," and Other Poems Emily Haden 12th Grade

While Sheers presents nature as outlasting man in his poetry, nature does not appear beautiful, as seen in the 'flint sky' of 'Border Country'. Instead, nature is powerful and strong in comparison to the people present in his poetry. The imagery of bad weather is also used to symbolise difficulties in relationships, as can be seen in 'Winter Swans', a further example of Sheers's ability to conjure nature's brutal strength and its ability to reflect the human condition.

Sheers uses the imagery of water in 'Winter Swans' to suggest that bad weather is a reflection of their stormy relationship. In particular, the lines 'the waterlogged earth gulping for breath' creates the image of drowning, perhaps suggesting that their relationship is literally drowning, which is reflected by the onomatopoeia of 'gulping'. The personification of the earth here gives the couple a passivity, again suggesting an unease in the relationship which is mirrored by the drowning earth. This provides support for Sara Crowne's critique that the 'ruptured terrain reflects the collection's fractured emotional landscape', seen here in 'Winter Swans' through the drowning earth. A progression in their relationship can be seen later through the description of the...