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Modernism came to be a prominent artistic field of thought within the first half of the twentieth century. It encompassed many new ideas brought on by the ever-changing society and ways of technology, but it also had strong roots and references to the traditional literature of the past. William Carlos Williams was a poet whose writing is a great example of the modernist style. In his poetry, Williams uses simple verse forms, American rhythms of speech, vivid images, a very honest depiction of everyday life, and many references to past works of art and traditional literature. Williams’ poem The Dead Baby is a good example of his general writing style and technique. It is a simple, four-stanza poem that serves as a commentary on a certain aspect of society. The poem’s title makes clear the theme of the piece, even though it is not as much about the actual baby as it is the effect the dead baby has had. The poem centers on the parents