Max’s Musings: William Carlos Williams

How far can symbolism go in a poem? 

Throughout my college career, I don’t think a poem has ever split my colleagues as much as William Carlos Williams’s “The Red Wheelbarrow”. Initially published in 1923 in Spring and All, it has remained one of Williams’s most referenced poems. 

At first glance, the poem embodies a quaint snapshot of the rural lifestyle that may be unfamiliar or unnatural to its readers. After sitting in the symbolism, the reader is exposed to something far deeper. Whether the poem weaves a pastoral lullaby or holds more merit has been constantly debated.  

The Red Wheelbarrow 

so much depends 

upon 

a red wheel

barrow

glazed with rain 

water

beside the white 

chickens. 

Williams could have written about anything from a rake to a shovel. So why did he choose a wheelbarrow? 

A wheelbarrow is resolute and robust in its strength and ability to transport. Without a wheelbarrow, a farmer or gardener could not carry out their daily tasks. Unlike other gardening and farming tools, the wheelbarrow is constantly on the go—just like people. 

To me, the wheelbarrow stands as a symbol for all tools. Every tool serves a function within its natural environment. They all have worth, value, and a need to fill. Every tool needs to be dependable and reliable to complete the task it was designed for. The poem, however, symbolizes more than just inanimate objects. 

Selected Poems by William Carlos Williams

The Evergreen Echo

The poem can apply to people and ideals as well. People in our lives are irreplaceable. People and relationships serve a pivotal function in one’s own life. It is crucial to find a sense of community, especially when people come and go throughout each other’s lives. 

The takeaway that always resonated with me was to never take what you have for granted. Whether one uses something or sees someone every single day or sparingly, it is necessary to cherish the things and the people you have that make up our world. 

“The Red Wheelbarrow” is a prime example of how a single-sentence poem can manifest a multitude of meanings. The red wheelbarrow can be a stand-in for almost anything. The poem transcends far beyond a simple, metal, three-wheeled implement. 

With Thanksgiving last week, this was an opportune time to reflect on the things and people that inhabit my life. As this was my first Thanksgiving away from my family, I found it quite somber, yet still found things to be thankful for. 

After moving to Seattle at the beginning of March with my fiancé, I struggled to regulate the changes. Even when I knew it was necessary for my relationship, it took time to adjust to switching states, leaving behind family and friends, and exchanging suburbia for city life. 

I have been able to reflect on why my fiancé and I moved to Washington to begin with. Not only were we seeking a fresh start, but we also wanted to live without fear wrapped in a ribbon of authenticity. 

Although we missed our families, we did not celebrate the holiday alone. We celebrated with new friends. And although we lacked familiar faces, the gathering was smothered with love, community, and thankfulness. This is something I will never take for granted. 

With future poems that cross your path, I encourage you to look deeper, travel farther, and ascend higher, even when it looks like there is nothing left to uncover.

So what will you never take for granted again?