"On autumn and winter" ; 28 May, 2023

'On autumn and winter.' 6 May, 2023.

27 April, 2023 :
Comments by ChatGPT on the poem “On autumn and winter” 
ChatGPT :

Here is my feedback on your poem "On Autumn and Winter":

Stanza 1: The opening stanza sets the stage for the poem's exploration of nature's survival mechanisms. It establishes the theme of struggle and the importance of adaptation to harsh conditions.

Stanza 2: The comparison between the tree's winding down process and hibernation is a creative way to illustrate the tree's preparation for winter. The use of the word "pretends" to describe the tree's state of appearing dead is particularly effective.

Stanza 3: The contrast between the frail grass and the larger branches of the tree is an interesting touch. It underscores the idea that different species have different strategies for survival.

Stanza 4: This stanza explores the role of death in the natural cycle of life. The idea that the leaves die for the tree itself to survive is a powerful one and is expressed effectively.

Stanza 5: The way in which fallen leaves provide nourishment for other trees is an interesting twist on the theme of death and survival. The use of the word "sneaky" to describe nature is a playful touch.

Stanza 6: The reference to Isaac Newton and his discovery of gravity is a clever way to highlight the wonders of nature. The use of the word "narrates" to describe the poet's role in observing nature is also effective.

Stanza 7: The repetition of the phrase "some will" creates a sense of inevitability and reinforces the idea of survival of the fittest.

Stanza 8: The conclusion of the poem is optimistic, with the promise of new life and rebirth in the spring. The use of the phrase "it goes on" is a powerful way to convey the cyclical nature of life.

Overall, your poem does a good job of exploring the theme of survival in nature. The use of personification to describe the tree's actions and the playful language used to describe nature are both effective techniques. In terms of comparison with other similar poems, your poem shares similarities with works such as Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" and William Wordsworth's "Lines Written in Early Spring."
 
S. Ragavan : Can you trace writings that adversely talk about winter ?

ChatGPT :

Yes, there are many writings that portray winter in a negative light. For example, in William Shakespeare's play "As You Like It," the character Jaques famously delivers the "All the world's a stage" speech, in which he describes the winter of life as "sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything." In John Keats' poem "To Autumn," he writes, "Where are the songs of spring? Ay, where are they? / Think not of them, thou hast thy music too," suggesting that the beauty of autumn is fleeting and gives way to the barrenness of winter. Similarly, in Robert Frost's poem "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening," the speaker describes the "dark and deep" woods as "lovely, dark and deep," but also suggests that the "frozen" and "desolate" nature of winter makes him feel as if he is "promises to keep" and cannot rest.
 
S. Ragavan. Thank you.

ChatGPT :
You're welcome! If you have any other questions or if there's anything else I can help you with, please let me know.

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                                             POEM :
                            ON AUTUMN AND WINTER

Each species tries to struggle,
To survive, to overcome the odds.
The tree knows that it cannot fight winter :
Slowly, in autumn, it prepares to wind down. 
 
The tree does not POWER down :
“POWER down” is death.
It WINDS down,
It starts hibernation.
This is the way to survive
The rigours of winter.
It reduces its needs to the minimum.
It scrapes along.
It pretends to be dead.
By the way, with leaves gone,
There be less resistance to winds
And less stuff to support.

The frail grass sways with the wind :
It does the bidding of the wind,
And it survives the storm.
It turns and bows down
As ordered by the wind.
When the storm is over,
It returns to its usual self.
Larger branches want to fight back :
They are broken by the winds.

The tree does not fight nature.
It works round.
And it survives in the process.

Leaves are starv’d in autumn;
Slowly they die,
They die for the tree itself to survive.
Death is the price they have to pay
For the tree to live on.
They have been programm’d to die
When the time comes.

Not to worry :
New leaves will be produc’d
In due course.

From starvation or the changing climate,
The leaves turn feeble, helpless.
When the time comes,
They are blown away.
They fall to the ground,
To rot, to turn into compost,

They turn into food for other trees :
Those trees will flourish better.
They flourish on the cadavers of the leaves.
The leaves that fall straight down
Turn into food for that very tree !...
The tree eats itself…
Thou, sneaky nature…

Whacking wonders of nature :
The tree feeding from its own leaves.
Its leaves might feed other trees, too.
In turn, their leaves might feed it
By being blown to its roots.

Isaac Newton saw the falling apple,
And discovered gravity.
The poet sees the hibernation process
And narrates the wonder.

The tree is patient,
Is logical.
Winter will set in,
With all its rigours.
It will rage on.
With icy winds, biting winds,
Raging winds, tempests,
Remaining leaves will be blown away.

Some branches will snap.
Some trees will tumble.
Others will remain.
Survival of the fittest.
“Some will make it, and some won’t;
Some do have luck, and some don’t.”
But, the species will survive.

The tree has done its job.
‘Tis hibernating.
‘Tis no use producing stuff
That will not survive
The rigours of winter.

Winter ragingly will have its say.
The tree will quietly have its way.
Finally the tree will hold sway.

The ravages of winter will peter out.
Winter will end.
Spring will creep in,
In all its bloom.
New leaves will sprout up,
With promises of life reborn.

The leaves will mature.
Buds will peep and sneak out.
Little fruits will turn into bigger ones.
Juicy ones, tempting ones.
They will contain the stuff
To propagate the species.

And it goes on.
And it goes on.
The wonders of nature…
And the wonders of poetry…

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