The Speaker

The speaker in the poem "Wintering" discusses the parallels between the seasonal rhythms of nature and human life. By observing the way certain trees lose their leaves in preparation for winter, the speaker contextualizes different seasons in people's lives. According to the speaker, close observation of both the external natural world and one's inner reality offers life-sustaining insights. The speaker remains optimistic yet realistic in tone by acknowledging that circumstances and seasons fluctuate.

Readers

The speaker addresses readers using the second-person pronoun "you." This "you" refers to all humans. According to the speaker, everyone experiences ebbs and flows in life, which is to say that everyone passes through difficult seasons. To be "wintering" means to slow down, accept life's cold or fallow seasons, and focus inward.

The Trees

The speaker looks to trees in winter for guidance on how to endure the most difficult seasons in life...