The willow is full plumage and is no help, with its insinuating whispers.Rendevous, it says. Terraces;the sibilants run up my spine, a shiver as if in fever. The summer dress rustles against the flesh of my thighs, the grass grows underfoot, at the edges of my eyes there are movements, in the branches; feathers, flittings, grace notes, tree into bird, metamorphosis run wild. Goddesses are possible now and the air suffuses with desire...Winter is not so dangerous. I need hardness, cold, rigidity; not this heaviness, as if I'm a melon on a stem, this liquid ripeness.
The passage evokes a vivid summer scene filled with lush imagery and sensuality. The willow, described as full of life, seems to whisper seductive invitations, enhancing a sense of connection between nature and desire. The description of the protagonist's surroundings creates a feeling of metamorphosis, where the line between human and nature blurs, suggesting freedom and transformation. The air is charged with longing, painting a picture of possibility and femininity in a verdant landscape.
Conversely, the speaker reflects on the qualities of winter, expressing a yearning for its coldness and rigidity. This contrast emphasizes a struggle against the overwhelming sensations of summer, suggesting a need for stability rather than the softness of ripeness. The imagery of being a heavy melon signifies an uncomfortable weight, highlighting a tension between vulnerability and the desire for resilience. This duality reflects the complexities of desire, identity, and the changing seasons of life.
