In "auspex," the phrase “dead leaves and snow” at the end of the first stanza implies that the speaker is experiencing feelings of indifference and numbness. an absence of love or passion. physical weakness as aging occurs. emotional maturity that comes with aging.

In "Auspex," the phrase “dead leaves and snow” at the end of the first stanza implies that the speaker is experiencing an absence of love or passion.

The author compares his heart to a nest that once had birds in it. In this nest, when the last bird leaves, it remains only with "dead leaves and snow", and not with life and warmth that those birds (or feelings) had.

paine is arguying that they had tried everything before coming to the conclusion that they needed to fight for their freedom.

argument: "every quiet method for peace hath been ineffectual."

claim 1: "our prayers have been rejected with disdain; and only tended to convince us, that nothing flatters vanity, or confirms obstinacy in kings more than repeated petitioning and nothing hath contributed more than that very measure to make the kings of europe absolute."

claim 2: "wherefore, since nothing but blows will do, for god’s sake, let us come to a final separation, and not leave the next generation to be cutting throats, under the violated unmeaning names of parent and child."