Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Linda Pastan’s poem "The Months" presents a beautifully crafted meditation on the cyclical nature of time, using each month of the year as a canvas to explore themes of change, memory, and the natural world. Each stanza, representing a month, captures the essence of its respective season, illustrating the interplay between the external landscape and the internal, emotional landscape of the speaker.

 January

The poem begins in the depths of winter, with trees "contorted by wind," reduced to "mere armatures for ice or snow." This image of stark, skeletal trees conveys the harshness and desolation of January. The speaker relates to the trees, making a "winter resolution" to endure the cold and be as patient as the trees, which "will leaf out in April." However, this resolution is fragile, easily broken as "the cold presses / its sharp blade / against my throat," evoking the struggle against the oppressive force of winter, both physically and mentally.

 February

February brings a slight reprieve from the deep freeze, as an orchid blooms after "endless hibernation" on a windowsill. The image of "embroidered purple stitches" suggests a delicate reawakening, contrasting with the still-present winter outside, where "snow / melts midair / to rain." This month, though short, is marked by unpredictable weather, reflecting the transitional nature of February as winter begins to give way, albeit reluctantly, to spring.

 March

March introduces a sense of foreboding, with the reference to Goethe’s "Earl King," a figure who steals away children in a poem. The father in the story dismisses the fear, saying "it’s just the wind," yet the speaker acknowledges that it is indeed "the wind / that blows away the tender / fragments of this world." March is depicted as a time of vulnerability, where early blossoms like the "Lenten Rose" are at risk, highlighting the fragile balance between hope and danger as winter loosens its grip.

 April

April is the month of renewal, with the "pastel blur / of the garden" and trees like cherry and redbud "shak[ing] rain / from their delicate shoulders." The imagery here is soft and vibrant, capturing the gentle beauty of spring as it fully arrives. The petals of pink dogwood "wash down the ditches / in dreamlike / rivers of color," emphasizing the dreamlike, almost surreal quality of April, where life bursts forth with color and energy.

 May

In May, the focus shifts to specific flowers—"May apple, daffodil, / hyacinth, lily"—and especially to the lilac, the "mother’s favorite flower." The lilac, with its "sweet breath drifting through / the open windows," serves as a powerful conduit of memory, linking the present springtime with the past. The scent of lilacs becomes a "perfume of memory," connecting the sensory experience of the season with personal history and nostalgia.

 June

June introduces the sounds and sensations of early summer. The "June bug / on the screen door" and the "chorus of frogs / and crickets" create a soundtrack of the season, while the "blink of lightning, grumble / of thunder" are reminders of the summer storms that clear the air. June is depicted as a time of sensory richness, where even the unseen—the "comfort" of what is "just the heat / clearing its throat"—is felt deeply.

 July

July continues the theme of summer with the image of fireflies lighting "their brief / candles / in all the trees / of summer." The fireflies are compared to "moonflakes" and "fluorescent lace," capturing the ephemeral, magical quality of warm July nights. The "ocean drags / its torn hem / over the dark / sand," introducing a subtle note of melancholy as the month carries with it the beauty of summer alongside the awareness of its impermanence.

 August

August is characterized by a sense of abundance and sensory overload, as the speaker is "barefoot / and sun-dazed," enjoying the "ripe peach / of a month." The imagery of children "in all their sandy / glory" and the table "heaping" with "corn and tomatoes" emphasizes the fullness and ripeness of summer at its peak. August is a time of indulgence, of savoring the last, sun-soaked days before the season begins to wane.

 September

September brings a subtle shift, where the "summer romance" of the lovers begins to wane, yet they "still cling / to each other." This clinging is mirrored in the way "green / leaves cling / to their trees," as if trying to resist the inevitable change. The "strange heat / of September" suggests a lingering warmth, but also hints at the coming autumn, where the world begins its slow descent into dormancy.

 October

In October, the transformation of the woods into a riot of color is likened to the myth of Daphne, who was transformed into a laurel tree to escape Apollo. The speaker feels "overtaken / by color," with leaves of "hammered gold" crowning the trees. October is a time of dramatic change, where nature displays its final, vibrant show before the coming cold.

 November

November is marked by the image of "anonymous / leaves," wet and pressed against windows, falling as the season progresses. The speaker counts these leaves "in my sleep," reflecting on the inevitability of decay and death. There is an acceptance of this cycle, as both the speaker and "death / know... the imperatives / of the season." November is a month of surrender to the natural order, where the focus shifts inward as the external world fades.

 December

The poem concludes with December, where "The white dove of winter / sheds its first / fine feathers." This imagery of the first snow, delicate and ephemeral, melting as it touches the ground, evokes a sense of quiet and introspection. The earth "shivers and / turns towards / the solstice," signaling the deepening of winter and the turning point of the year, where the days will gradually begin to lengthen again. December is both an end and a beginning, a time of stillness that carries the promise of renewal.

"The Months" by Linda Pastan is a masterful exploration of the passage of time, with each month representing a distinct phase in the cycle of life. Through rich imagery and careful attention to the natural world, Pastan captures the beauty, transience, and emotional resonance of each season, offering a meditation on the ways in which we experience and reflect upon time as it moves forward, inevitably and inexorably.

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