To winter by william blake “o winter! bar thine adamantine doors: the north is thine; there hast thou built thy dark deep-founded habitation. shake not thy roofs, nor bend thy pillars with thine iron car.” he hears me not, but o’er the yawning deep rides heavy; his storms are unchain’d, sheathed in ribbed steel; i dare not lift mine eyes, for he hath rear’d his sceptre o’er the world. lo! now the direful monster, whose skin clings to his strong bones, strides o’er the groaning rocks: he withers all in silence, and his hand unclothes the earth, and freezes up frail life. he takes his seat upon the cliffs; the mariner cries in vain. poor little wretch! that deal’st with storms, till heaven smiles, and the monster is driv’n yelling to his caves beneath mount hecla. adamantine: unbreakable sheathed: encased sceptre: a staff symbolizing power withers: shrinks; enfeebles mount hecla: an icelandic volcano that was believed to be a gateway to hell how does the personification of winter affect the tone of this poem? it creates a somber tone, as if the speaker mourns an old friend. it creates a nervous tone, as if the speaker fears what might happen next. it creates a distrustful tone, as if the speaker thinks he is being fooled. it creates a hostile tone, as if the speaker is addressing an enemy.