The Nightingales

The Nightingales - context Summary

Published in Spring and All

Published in Williams's 1923 collection Spring and All, this short poem fixes a quiet domestic moment: the speaker leaning, unlacing shoes, noticing shoes, flat worsted flowers, and the shadow-play of fingers. Its minimal language and precise concrete detail reflect Williams's interest in everyday objects and economy of line. Placed in Spring and All, the poem exemplifies his move toward pared-down, image-focused verse.