* Precise and Evocative Language: Winters is known for his meticulous use of language. He chooses words carefully, relying on connotation and implication as much as denotation to build meaning. He avoids clichés and strives for originality, creating a specific atmosphere or emotional tone through his word choices.
* Imagery and Sensory Detail: He creates vivid imagery that engages multiple senses, drawing the reader into the experience of the poem. This immersive experience often bypasses direct statement, allowing the reader to infer meaning from the sensory details presented.
* Emphasis on the Concrete and Specific: Instead of broad pronouncements, Winters often focuses on concrete details and specific instances. He might describe a particular object, event, or memory with great precision, allowing the reader to draw broader conclusions about themes of loss, memory, mortality, or the passage of time.
* Subtlety and Nuance: He avoids overt didacticism. His poems often operate on a level of suggestion and implication rather than direct statement. The "message" is not explicitly stated but emerges gradually as the reader engages with the poem's imagery, language, and structure. Understanding often requires careful rereading and reflection.
* Structure and Form: While he employs a variety of forms, the structure itself often contributes to the poem's meaning. The use of specific stanza forms, rhyme schemes, or line breaks can subtly emphasize certain ideas or create particular rhythms that mirror the emotional content.
In short, Winters' method is more suggestive than declarative. He relies on the reader's active participation in constructing meaning from the carefully crafted details and evocative language he employs. His poems are invitations to experience and reflect, rather than pronouncements of a singular message.