The speaker has been forced to endu

The speaker has been forced to endure a separation from the beloved, and in this poem he compares that absence to the desolation of winter. In the first quatrain, the speaker simply exclaims the comparison, painting a picture of the winter: "How like a winter hath my absence been / From thee, the pleasure of the fleeting year! / What freezings have I felt, what dark days seen! / What old December's bareness everywhere!" In the second quatrain, however, he says that, in reality, the season was that of late summer or early autumn, when all of nature was bearing the fruits of summer's blooming. In the third quatrain, he dismisses the "wanton burthen of the prime"—that is, the bounty of the summer—as unreal, as the "hope of orphans." It could not have been fathered by summer, because "summer and his pleasures" wait on the beloved, and when he is gone, even the birds are silent. In the couplet, the speaker says that the birds may sing when the beloved is gone, but it is with "so dull a cheer" that the leaves, listening, become fearful that winter is upon them.

The speaker has been forced to endure a separation from the beloved, and in this poem he compares that absence to the desolation of winter. In the first quatrain, the speaker simply exclaims the comparison, painting a picture of the winter: "How like a winter hath my absence been / From thee, the pleasure of the fleeting year! / What freezings have I felt, what dark days seen! / What old December's bareness everywhere! "In the second quatrain, however, he says that, in reality, the season was that of late summer or early autumn, when all of nature was bearing the fruits of summer's blooming. In the third quatrain, he dismisses the "wanton burthen of the prime" -that is, the bounty of the summer-as unreal, as the "hope of orphans." It could not have been fathered by summer, because "summer and his. pleasures "wait on the beloved, and when he is gone, even the birds are silent. In the couplet, the speaker says that the birds may sing when the beloved is gone, but it is with "so dull a cheer" that the leaves, listening, become fearful that winter is upon them.

The speaker has been forced to endure a separation from, the beloved and in this poem he compares that absence to the desolation. Of winter. In the first quatrain the speaker, simply exclaims the comparison painting a, picture of the winter: "How like. A winter hath my absence been / From thee the pleasure, of the fleeting year! / What freezings have, I felt what dark days. Seen!/ What old December 's bareness everywhere! "In the second quatrain however he says that,,,, in reality the season was that. Of late summer or, early autumn when all of nature was bearing the fruits of summer 's blooming. In the, third quatrain he. Dismisses the "wanton burthen of the prime" - that is the bounty, of the summer - as unreal as the, "hope of orphans."It could not have been fathered by summer because", summer and his pleasures. "Wait on, the beloved and when he, is gone. Even the birds are silent. In the couplet the speaker, says that the birds may sing when the beloved, is gone but it is. With "so dull a cheer." that, the leaves listening become fearful, that winter is upon them.