"Meadow"

In “Meadow,” Kate Knapp Johnson sets a lost but intimate tone as she uses syntax, diction, and imagery to emphasize the passage of time. It is very interesting to note the irregularity of the sentence division in the poem because it doesn’t line up with the stanzas. Instead of ending each stanza with a clear thought, the reader is left with an unfinished sentence ending in a verb, such as “I wanted to know just one thing (stanza ends)...about the soul.” Perhaps this conveys Johnson’s sense of total confusion as she tries to find her companion through the window. At the same time, Johnson brings the reader closer to her loved one by the word she uses to describe him/her. She makes up the word “withness” in saying that her beloved will always remain with her. This draws an intimate bond between Johnson and her reader. Finally, Johnson uses imagery to symbolize the passage of time. For instance, when she says “two inches of snow have fallen,” the reader can imagine the gradual precipitation and better understand how the author is feeling. Overall, Johnson does a great job of using these techniques to convey her message.