Poem Analysis - The Wind

A Journey Through Emotions with the Wind

Lucy Maud Montgomery’s "The Wind" is a concise and evocative poem that takes the reader on a journey through different scenes and emotions, all experienced vicariously through the eyes of the wind. The poem unfolds as a series of questions posed to the wind, each answered with a snapshot of a specific location and event. The tone is initially gentle and romantic, but gradually shifts towards a more melancholic and somber mood as the poem progresses, culminating in a stark image of death.

Love and Innocence in the South and West

The poem begins with images of love and tenderness. In the South, the wind witnesses "a lover kiss his lass," a scene of newly found affection under the romantic glow of the evening star. This establishes a theme of love and innocence, presenting it as a joyful and natural occurrence. Similarly, the West offers a scene of maternal love, with a mother "kneeling by / The cradle where her first-born lay." This image reinforces the theme of love but shifts it to the domestic sphere, highlighting the nurturing and protective aspect of love. The imagery in these first two stanzas is soft and inviting, using phrases like "lilied meadows fair and far" and "passing sweet," creating a sense of peace and tranquility.

Isolation and Longing in the North

As the poem moves northward, the atmosphere becomes more solitary and introspective. The wind observes "a maiden keeping tryst / Upon a gray and haunted shore." This scene introduces the theme of isolation and longing. The "gray and haunted shore" suggests a place of loneliness and perhaps unfulfilled hopes. The maiden's tryst, or secret meeting, implies a yearning for connection that may or may not be realized. The imagery is starker than in the previous stanzas, reflecting the emotional distance and uncertainty associated with this theme.

Mortality and Loss in the East

The final stanza, focused on the East, introduces the theme of mortality and loss. The wind recounts seeing "a wan wreck on the waves / And a dead face beneath the moon." This is a stark and tragic image, contrasting sharply with the earlier scenes of love and tenderness. The "wan wreck" symbolizes the fragility of life and the destructive power of nature. The "dead face beneath the moon" is a powerful reminder of the inevitability of death. The shift in tone is dramatic, moving from gentle observation to a sense of profound sorrow and despair.

Symbolism of the Wind and Directions

The wind itself serves as a central symbol in the poem. It represents a force of nature that is both omnipresent and detached, capable of witnessing a wide range of human experiences. The choice of directional settings—South, West, North, and East—may also carry symbolic weight. South and West are often associated with warmth, growth, and nurturing, aligning with the themes of love and family. North, with its "gray and haunted shore," evokes feelings of coldness, isolation, and the unknown. East, where the sun rises but also where the "wan wreck" lies, could symbolize both new beginnings and inevitable endings, the cyclical nature of life and death. The journey through the directions mirrors a journey through different stages of life and emotional states.

A Reflection on Life's Contrasts

"The Wind" is a poignant reflection on the diverse spectrum of human experience. Through the wind’s observations, Montgomery presents a series of contrasting images: love and loss, hope and despair, connection and isolation. The poem's significance lies in its ability to encapsulate these contrasting aspects of life within a compact and evocative framework, reminding us of the beauty and fragility of human existence and the constant presence of both joy and sorrow.