Well-Educated Mind Poetry Reading List discussion

The flower, Asphodel, is from the "Elysian fields" and grows "in hell." It represents love, abiding love.

This was a unique poem, written in three staggered lines per sentence. It was written as a plea -- pleading for love or reconciliation, pleading to recover or rescue love.

The poem is a love letter written to the poet's wife, Flossie (they may have been divorced? Maybe separated?). Apparently he was unfaithful, and possibly some other things pushed her away. Williams was struggling with poor health and facing death at this late stage of life. Maybe he was feeling contrite or sentimental, or maybe just plain afraid! Nonetheless, his burdens caused him to reach out to his wife and plead with her to forgive him.

It is actually a beautifully written poem that includes personal history about love, sorrow, memories, regret, and repentance, and I think it comes across as very genuine and tender. Williams remembers the experiences he and Flossie had, like the books they read, and makes references of their marriage to other poetry, like the Iliad.

There is a sense of anxiousness, too, a fear of loss (of love), which makes sense if Williams had also a fear of death, as well. He was anxious for her forgiveness, eager to preserve their love, and to prove to her his sincerity. He also may not have wanted to die without the reassurance of her love because the end of love was worse than death itself.