Ode to West Wind

            
            
             In Percy Bysshe Shelley's "Ode to the West Wind", the poet uses the image of the dead leaves to show how the wind is an uncontrollable force of nature that cannot be contained. Throughout the poem, Shelley uses the dead leaves and other figurative devices to show the inspiration the west wind had over him and to help the audience understand the scene he was able to witness. .
             In the first part of the poem Shelley uses the dead leave to show the force of the west wind and its effect on nature as autumn arrives. The first part of the poem the west wind blows the multiple colored dead leaves from the trees along with the seeds to the ground and scatters them to their "dark wintry bed". Shelley uses the leaves to establish the greater presence of the wind and its role in the change of the seasons where the west wind represents fall.
             In the second part of the poem Shelley changes from the image of the leaves to using the clouds to show the uncontrollable force of the west wind. Shelley uses the simile "Loose clouds like earth's decaying leaves" to shift the imagery from leaves to clouds. Shelly goes on to use the image of the clouds to show the end the change of he season and of the upcoming storms that lie ahead.
             In the third part of the poem Shelly uses the ocean and the vegetation that grows at the bottom of it to show how the wind affects everything. The ocean and its foliage are used to in the same manner as the leaves and the clouds to show the uncontrollable force of the wind. The waves of the ocean and the "oozy woods" show the presence and affect of the wind.
             In the forth part of the poem Shelley ties all of the images together showing his desire to be the autumn leaves, tempest clouds, and turbulent waves so that he to can be effected by the wind and nature the way the objects are. Shelley goes on to wish he were young again and to be free to be taken by the wind.
             In the final part of the poem Shelley asks the west wind to "Make me thy lyre" and to take control and help him be creative to fulfill his inspiration.