Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Linda Pastan's poem "Misreading Housman" intertwines reflections on weather, memory, and the passage of time, using A.E. Housman’s poetry as a touchstone for exploring the unpredictability of life and nature. The poem begins with a striking image: "On this first day of spring, snow / covers the fruit trees, mingling improbably / with the new blossoms." This unexpected juxtaposition of snow and blossoms—a symbol of winter clashing with the emergence of spring—sets the stage for the poem's meditation on how life often defies expectations and how we, as humans, interpret and misinterpret these events.

The image of snow on blossoms is likened to "identical twins / brought up in different hemispheres." This comparison emphasizes the strange harmony and discord between the two elements, suggesting that they are naturally related yet unnaturally combined. The snow, which should have receded with winter, lingers and intrudes upon the scene of spring, echoing the way that certain experiences or memories can resurface unexpectedly, altering our perception of the present.

The speaker reflects that "it is not what Housman meant / when he wrote of the cherry / hung with snow." Here, Pastan acknowledges the gap between Housman's poetic imagery and the reality of the scene before her. Housman's depiction of snow on cherry blossoms in his poetry carries its own specific meaning, likely tied to the themes of fleeting beauty and mortality. However, the speaker notes that Housman "also knew / how death can mistake the seasons," recognizing that, like snow in spring, death and other unexpected events can disrupt the natural order.

Pastan then critiques the "misreading" of Housman’s work in "those high school classrooms," where students, "drunk on boredom," were forced to recite his poems. This moment of critique reflects on how the true depth and meaning of poetry often go unrecognized by those who are too young or disengaged to fully appreciate it. The speaker acknowledges that the beauty Housman portrayed in his poetry may have been misunderstood or simplified by those early readers, missing the underlying darkness or complexity.

As the poem progresses, the weather, which "is always looming / in the background," becomes a metaphor for life's unpredictability. The speaker suggests that the weather is trying "to become more / than merely scenery," indicating that these natural events are not just passive backdrops but active forces that impact our lives. The weather "is telling us something / we don't want to hear," reflecting how nature, like life, often presents us with situations beyond our control or expectation.

The poem's tone shifts towards a contemplative resignation as the speaker reflects on how unpredictable and "out of control" life can be, likening it to being children again. This return to childhood imagery—"hearing the voices of thunder / like baritone uncles shouting / in the next room as we try to sleep"—evokes a sense of vulnerability and powerlessness. The thunder represents the loud, imposing forces of life that intrude upon our peace, while the snow, "falling / soft as a coverlet," symbolizes a quieter, more insidious form of disruption, even as it suggests comfort.

In the final lines, the snow, even "in springtime," whispers a message of acceptance: "relax, there is nothing / you can possibly do about any of this." This resignation to the uncontrollable forces of nature—and by extension, life itself—echoes a mature understanding that some things are beyond our influence, and that the only response may be to let go and accept them as they are.

"Misreading Housman" is a poem that reflects on the intersection of nature, memory, and the human tendency to impose meaning on the world around us. Through the lens of Housman's poetry, Pastan explores the themes of unpredictability and the misalignment between expectation and reality. The poem suggests that while we may seek to control or make sense of the world, ultimately, we must learn to accept its inherent unpredictability and the inevitability of change. The use of weather as a metaphor for life's uncontrollable forces, combined with the critique of how we misinterpret or overlook deeper meanings, adds a rich layer of introspection to the poem, inviting readers to reflect on their own experiences of expectation, disruption, and acceptance.

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