Winter the Huntsman-Osbert Sitwell

WINTER THE HUNTSMAN

Through his iron glades

Rides Winter the Huntsman,

All colour fades

As his horn is 'heard sighing.


Far through the forest

His wild hooves crash and thunder,

Till many a mighty branch

Is torn asunder.


And the red reynard creeps

To his hole near the river,

The copper leaves fall

And the bare trees shiver.


As night creeps from the ground,

Hides each tree from its brother,

And each dying sound

Reveals yet another.


Is it Winter the Huntsman

Who gallops through his iron glades,

Cracking his cruel whip

To the gathering shades?


OSBERT SITWELL


Summary: 'Winter the Huntsman' by Osbert Sitwell is a poetic portrayal of the arrival of winter, personified as a formidable huntsman. The poem vividly describes the transformation of the natural world as winter approaches.

The poem begins with the depiction of Winter as a huntsman riding through a forest. The reference to 'iron glades' suggests a sense of cold and harshness that accompanies his arrival. As Winter approaches, all the vibrant colours of the season begin to fade, and his presence is marked by the melancholic sound of his horn.

As Winter advances, his progress through the forest is marked by the thunderous noise of his hooves, which break and tear through the mighty branches of the trees. This imagery emphasizes the forceful and destructive nature of the season.

The poem continues by describing the effects of Winter's arrival on the wildlife and vegetation. The red fox seeks shelter in its hole by the river, and the leaves on the trees turn copper and then fall, leaving the trees bare and shivering in the cold.

The transition to night further deepens the sense of isolation and coldness. The trees become hidden from each other, and the dying sound in the forest become more pronounced, adding to the eerie atmosphere.

The poem concludes by reiterating the presence of Winter as a huntsman. His cruel whip symbolizes the harshness of the season, and the 'gathering shades' evoke the darkness and chill that envelop everything as winter takes hold.

In summary, 'Winter the Huntsman' by Osbert Sitwell is a beautifully descriptive poem that personifies winter as a powerful and relentless force of nature, bringing about the transformation and desolation of the natural world.

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