Similarities is poetry

I would think and hope that poets would be able to use the writings of others to spawn new ideas that would inevitably show similarities. Also many writers probably experience similar events that would inspire similar writings. One example of these similarities, whether is be coincident or not, are the works of A. E. Housman and Robert Frost. Nature is the common theme and further more, the experiences that one encounters by being a part of nature. In Housman’s 1896 poem, “loveliest of trees, cherry now,” a scene of nature is described and what one feels during the changing of natural things. This is similar to Robert Frost in the fact that a natural scene is being described as well as the feeling of the writer. In Frost’s poem, “After apple-picking”, the same type of description is given, although through the use of different words. I am not sure as to who might have potentially influenced the other because they were both writing at about the same time, although with respect to these two particular poems Housman’s was written first. Both of these writers use nature to describe human emotions and use nature at the catalyst for these emotions. Another author that shows similarities to A. E. Housman is Edna St. Vincent Millay. In her poem, “spring”, she describes the changing of the seasons and her wonderment as to why the spring always returns without question. This reoccurring theme of nature seems to be very well diffused amongst writers and this is really not a surprise considering that all writers, no matter what subject matter they prefer, are subject to natures complexity. “Spring” was written after “loveliest of trees, cherry now”, as well as “after apple-picking” so it could be assumed that Edna St. Vincent Millay might have at least read Frost’s and Housman’s works prior to writing hers. These similarities, coincidental or not, are still very prevalent in poetry and reinforce the fact that reading the writings of others helps to inspire new, but slightly different writings.