The Widows Lament

In the poem “The Widow’s Lament in Springtime,” Williams uses the image of a blossoming tree to symbolize grief. In the poem, the widowed speaker describes a lush scene in her backyard. Trees, bushes, and flowers are in full bloom. Even the grass is a brighter green. But, she notes, because this scene used to be one she shared with her husband, it now only brings her deeper into her grief. In this way, the tree represents the way images can be warped in the aftermath of loss, hollowed of their former meaning. This particular symbol is a good example of how Williams is able to recontextualize his images, giving them a new emotional charge based on the circumstances of the text.