"In Blackwater Woods" is a pensive poem. It uses nature to describe or deal with loss. It probably took place after some sort of tragedy that the author has experienced. It uses the metaphor of a fire to show rejuvination. "[T]he fires / and the black river of loss / whose other side / is salvation." The fire is the event that was tragic or painful. The river could be the ashes that follow the fire. These ashes provide nutrients that help plants thrive. This represents rebirth. The author is basically saying that good comes out of bad. She then talks about three things that are needed for a person to live: "to love what is mortal; / to hold it / against you bones knowing / your own life depends on it; / and, when the time comes to let it go, / to let it go." I think these three things are very important. You need to be able to love and embrace something even if it is mortal and be able to let it go when its gone. Of course I could be reading too far into the meaning of the poem. It could simply be a walk in the woods ending in thoughts. Either way, I enjoyed the poem.
P.S. Sorry it's late.
I like your word "pensive."
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