Marshlands

The poem presents a marsh

The poem presents a marsh with a thin wet sky, pools, wild rice, lagoon, rushes, lichens, sedges, and vapours. Each detail adds to the picture of a qu

The scene moves slowly from

The scene moves slowly from the yellow rim of the sky to twilight, shadows, and sleeping marshes. This change gives the poem a gentle flow.

The lizard shrills its tune

The lizard shrills its tune in monotone, while the cranes sail up the silence. These sound details make the marsh feel real and full of life.

Twilight is described like a spirit

Twilight is described like a spirit swathed in a soft veil that steals over the swale. This gives twilight human-like movement and presence.

The pools glint through their mildews

The pools glint through their mildews like large cups of gold. The comparison makes the pools appear bright and precious.