Room
The room in which the speaker finds themselves is a symbol for the mind, which is empty and unfamiliar due to the absence of someone they care about. The fact that the speaker has "never been in" the room before emphasizes the finality of the loss and the sense of irrevocable change that accompanies it.
Window
The window serves as a symbol of the speaker's desire for connection and their sense of isolation. The fact that they are "standing all day" at the window suggests a longing to see the person they have lost, while the fact that they are "with others whom I cannot see" emphasizes their sense of loneliness and detachment.
Shadow
The shadow that the speaker has become represents the speaker's sense of disorientation and displacement in the absence of the other person. The fact that the shadow has "lost its way" emphasizes the speaker's sense of directionlessness and loss of identity.
West
The direction of the west is used as an allegory for endings and farewells. The phrase "pointing west" emphasizes the finality of the speaker's loss and the sense that the person they care about is gone for good.
Silence
Silence is a recurring motif throughout the poem, emphasizing the speaker's sense of absence and the void that the other person has left behind. The use of silence as a motif also serves to highlight the speaker's internal state, as they struggle to come to terms with the loss and find a way to move forward.
