You should consider

• How the speaker portrays the man who digs and plants in Yorkshire compared to her own indoor, desk-bound life
• The importance of the letter/communication motif and what it suggests about human relationships
• How Dooley's use of the second person ("you") and seasonal imagery creates feelings of intimacy or distance
• The poem's closing lines and what they reveal about the speaker's sense of belonging and longing

Remember to

back up every claim with close reference to the text, use accurate literary terminology, and maintain a clear argument throughout your essay.

Pre-writing Guidance

As you plan your response, consider the following:

Your essay should present a clear thesis, include textual evidence with analysis, and conclude by reflecting on the poem's broader significance.

• How does the seasonal, rural imagery (e.g., digging, feeding birds) differ from the speaker's indoor, language-driven work?
• What does the poem imply about who is "truly" living, and does the speaker come to a resolution on this question?
• How does the blend of conversational and lyrical tones influence the reader's perception of the relationship between the two figures?
• What is the importance of the final lines, and how do they reshape the concept of communication?