This quote uses personification to depict the clouds as having exhausted themselves, suggesting a heavy downpour. It sets the tone for the poem, reflecting the emotional saturation of the couple’s relationship.
"Waterlogged earth gulping for breath at our feet"
Another example of personification, this line vividly describes the earth as if it were struggling to cope with the excess water, mirroring the couple’s relationship that feels overwhelmed and suffocated.
"Icebergs of white feather"
The swans are compared to icebergs, which is a metaphor for the visible part of their relationship, with much more lying beneath the surface, unseen and unspoken.
"They mate for life"
This factual statement about swans is symbolic of commitment and enduring partnership, reflecting the couple’s realization about their own relationship.
"Our hands, that had, somehow,/Swum the distance between us"
The final reconciliation is depicted through the image of their hands coming together, suggesting a natural and almost subconscious desire to reconnect and support each other.
These quotes and their analyses show how Sheers uses natural imagery to parallel the dynamics of a relationship, emphasizing themes of unity, healing, and reconciliation.
