'Do You Fear the Wind?' Summary

The poems in "Do You Fear the Wind?" capture the essence of rural life in the American Midwest. Garland's language is simple and direct, but his imagery is powerful and evocative. He writes about the hardships of farming, the beauty of the natural landscape, and the indomitable spirit of the pioneers who settled the region. One of the most striking things about Garland's poetry is his use of nature imagery. He sees the natural world as a source of both beauty and strength. In the poem "The Wind," he writes: >The wind is a wild beast >That roams the land at will. >He howls and rages, >And tears at the trees. But despite the wind's destructive power, Garland also sees it as a symbol of freedom and renewal. In the poem "The Song of the Wind," he writes: >The wind is a song >That blows from the west. >It brings us news >Of the world beyond. Garland's poetry is not just about the beauty of the natural world. He also writes about the hardships of rural life. In the poem "The Hired Man," he tells the story of a farmer who is struggling to make ends meet. The farmer is forced to hire a man to help him with the work, but he can't afford to pay him very much. The hired man is a hard worker, but he is also lonely and isolated. Despite the hardships of rural life, Garland's poems are ultimately uplifting. He celebrates the indomitable spirit of the pioneers who settled the Midwest. In the poem "The Trail-Makers," he writes: >They were the trail-makers, >The men who blazed the way. >They faced the dangers, >And they knew no dismay. Garland's poetry is a testament to the strength and resilience of the human spirit.