Interesting break from the aforementioned cruelty that April brings. What is it about the mountains that generate that feeling of being free? Perhaps having nothing or nobody to disturb the peace and solitude found there. Maybe is suggests optimism or hopefulness such as was discussed in class with the discussion on specks of light. It briefly pulls away from the gloom by offering romanticism instead.

April is the cruelest month in that weather conditions are known to be less forgiving; rain messes up terrain, and some places deal with snow instead. Nonetheless the rain nourishes plants and pastures, and more life comes from what has died prior.

The entirety of this piece presents opposites; life versus death, rock/no water--symbiosis.

Curious if there really is an underlying theme of pregnancy in this poem; certainly there are several themes associated with being a woman. Altogether, "egg," "push-sea," "pussy" and "gaiter" suggest this.

A rose is (arose) is a rose (color)? Or perhaps no more than a mere rose, "color mahogany center;" "mere colors"

Does egg refer to ovum, "in places" and only few insisting on fertilization?

This reminded me of Fahrenheit 451 and 1984. Sure, what good is it to know evil? This poem suggests, however, that knowledge is power, and one can only obtain a thorough understanding of things by knowing their opposite also.

The title suggests that the poem is about an aspiring poet and where they lie in relation to the greats, Homer and Whitman. Masters uses the analogy of "seeds in a dry pod" in reference to the poet (or poets) in constant growth, "ticking" and wanting to be heard, while the pine trees are in reference to the aforementioned leading poets, "roaring in the pines"

What comes of this? I feel like it has an air of disillusion. This follows "you that ache [...] to be sublime" etc, and seems to imply that these aspirations, visions, and fears result in stagnancy; a vicious cycle which only poets and kings have a grip on.

Interesting use of "silver" describing the "loneliness of night." Perhaps it refers to the gentle white glow of moonlight reflected off of surrounding things. This word helps with the mood and imagery of the poem; it emphasizes its general melancholy as well as an aspect of night-time.

I agree with a lot that is being said here, however I find it disappointing that these things are still a challenge for some to obtain collectively, and has transcended race as a dominant factor for stagnancy. The ideal of human brotherhood and unity is the crux here, as it encompasses all that humanity has needed- both then and now.

I feel that this poem discusses the rapidness and viciousness that the Industrial Revolution brought along as well as the struggles endured by civil rights activists. The Lion acts metaphorically as a beast society cannot help feeding and being submissive to. People give in, against their will but complacently. It suggests a postmodern, dismal world that carries on cyclically and repeating its problems.