Ode to the West Wind is a poem by Percy Bysshe Shelley, composed on Oct. 18, 1819 and published in 1820. Written in the style of a classical ode, the poem expresses the poets longing and admiration for the powerful and life-bringing West Wind. The poem is divided into five sections, each describing a different aspect of the wind and its relationship to the universe. In the first section, Shelley praises the West Wind for its supernatural power and ability to “scatter [the] leaves dead.” He paints a clear picture of the destruction and renewal that the Wind brings and emphasizes how vital it is to the cycle of life. He believes that the Wind is a messenger of “Hope” that carries away the old and brings in the new. Throughout the poem, Shelley also begs the Wind to breathe life into his poems, just as it does with nature. In the second section, he invites the Wind to be the “trumpet” of his “thoughts,” and in the fourth section he asks for it to take his words and “Make [them] thy blasts’ cheer.” As the poem progresses, it moves from being a hymn to the Wind to a plea from the poet, who desperately wants to be inspired. The third section speaks of the Wind’s relevance to mankind and its effect on history. In it, Shelley asserts that many of the world’s leading figures, such as Napoleon and Julius Caesar, owe their successes to the West Wind’s powers. He also connects the wind to ethical virtue, stating that it can bring forth “shapes,” “idea[s],” and “images” that will help to guide and reform society. The poem’s fifth and final section speaks of the Wind’s immortality, claiming that the wind will forever exist and be the poet’s inspiration. In this way, the poem pays homage not just to the Wind but to Shelley’s own sense of resilience, implying that, although life may be turbulent, the Wind will always be there to refresh and renew. Ode to the West Wind is an iconic poem, celebrating the power of nature and the hope of renewal that comes with it. It has become widely appreciated for its intricate structure, beautiful imagery, and its ability to evoke emotion. In it, Shelley captures the eternal power of nature, and the importance of appreciating and understanding our natural world.