Ode to the West Wind
I O wild West Wind, though breath of Autumn's being personification, alliteration, apostrophe Thou, from whose unseen presence the leaves dead unseen presence because the wind is tangible but not visible Are driven, like ghosts from an enchanter fleeing dead leaves compared to ghosts. West wind compared to exorcist (enchanter) who drives away ghosts Yellow, and black, and pale, and hectic red, the color of fallen leaves Pestilence-stricken multitudes: O thou, leaves, unwanted, decayed elements Who chariotest to their dark wintry bed The winged seeds, where they lie cold and low In the last line of the previous stanza, Shelley begins to speak about the wind as a chariot who delivers to the dark, cold earth, the winged seeds, where they simply lie on the ground, scattered, dormant, cold and wet under the snow, hence: Each like a corpse within its grave, until Buried, like a corpse, under the snow, until Thine azure sister of the Spring shall blow your sister, the ...