Chickens, "The Red Wheelbarrow" (Symbol)
The speaker in "The Red Wheelbarrow" ends the poem by taking note of some white chickens standing near the wheelbarrow. These chickens function as a multi-purpose symbol in the poem. After building a relatively static portrait of the wheelbarrow, Williams introduces the chickens as one brief instance of action. This choice shows the farm where the wheelbarrow and chickens reside to be a lively, functioning space. The chickens also set up a color contrast with the red wheelbarrow, as they are white. This allows the reader to imagine the scene more vividly. The chickens come to symbolize difference, as they gather beside the wheelbarrow, creating action in the scene while still serving a supporting role in the poem. Given his intense focus on imagery, Williams made extremely deliberate choices with the symbols he chose to include in his work.
Broken Glass, "Between Walls" (Symbol)
At the conclusion of "Between Walls," the speaker notices the way some shards of a broken glass bottle shine in an otherwise empty hospital back area. The majority of the poem is spent depicting the harsh lifelessness of this setting. The speaker only reveals this image at the poem's end, like a small beacon of promise. In the poem, this broken glass symbolizes the potential for beauty to be found in unlikely places, however grim they might appear to be on the surface. The glass is a particularly effective choice for this idea, as it is not a traditionally poetic image of beauty. It is instead a demonstration of how a seemingly unappealing thing (a broken glass bottle) can be briefly lustrous. Images that inspire wonder in industrial spaces recur in Williams's work, particularly in the epic poem Paterson.
Memory, "This Is Just To Say" (Motif)
Given the concision and clarity Williams brought to his work, it comes as no great surprise that memory was a common motif in his poems. In "This Is Just To Say," the speaker cannot help but recount how delicious the plums he ate were. Memory functions as a force so strong it cannot be suppressed. Even as the speaker is expressing regret for his actions, he is compelled to mention how cold and sweet the plums were. As evidenced elsewhere, by choosing specific details, Williams is able to build a stronger image in the reader's mind and characterize the strange places memory takes people back to. This motif appears in other Williams poems, as he was always interested in sensory experiences that were too strong to be forgotten. The ending of this poem is an effective example of that technique, in that the speaker is recounting this instance of enjoyment at the climax of his guilt.
The Mirror, "Danse Russe" (Symbol)
The speaker in "Danse Russe" experiences a sort of joyful moment of revelation as he dances nude in front of his mirror. As his wife, baby, and nanny are asleep in the early morning, he dances, sings, and studies his body in the mirror. The mirror, in this poem, works as a symbol for self-reflection. It allows the speaker to engage in a moment of consideration and look upon his physical form with lighthearted approval. While mirrors themselves are not a constant image in Williams's poetry, moments of self-reflection are common. In this example, the mirror is the means by which the speaker is given the chance to stop and ponder his sense of self. Symbols like this one, functioning as vehicles for reflection and examination, crop up elsewhere in Williams's writing, giving the characters the opportunity to stop and think about who they are.
Blossoming Tree, “The Widow’s Lament in Springtime” (Symbol)
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.
