Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Marge Piercy's poem "The New Year of the Trees" beautifully explores the anticipation of spring and the interconnectedness of life cycles through vivid imagery and evocative language. Celebrating Tu Bishvat, the Jewish New Year of the Trees, the poem reflects on the dormant state of nature during winter while anticipating the burst of life that is to come. Piercy skillfully weaves together the themes of waiting, renewal, and the unseen preparations of nature.

The poem opens by acknowledging the traditional significance of Tu Bishvat: "is the New Year of the Trees, but here / the ground is frozen under the crust of snow." This immediate contrast between the holiday's timing and the current state of the environment sets the tone for the poem. The frozen ground and the dormant trees, "their buds tight as nuts," depict a landscape in hibernation, waiting for the warmth of spring to awaken it.

Piercy's description of the rhododendron leaves as "roll[ing] up their stiff scrolls" further emphasizes the dormant state of nature. The imagery of leaves as scrolls suggests a story or a history that is temporarily paused, waiting to be unfurled and read when the time is right. This metaphor extends to the broader concept of nature's cycle, which is temporarily on hold during winter.

The poem shifts focus to the poet's internal response to the season: "In the white and green north of the diaspora / I am stirred by a season that will not arrive / for six weeks." The poet feels an internal stirring and connection to the season that is yet to come, much like "wines on far continents prickle / to bubbles when their native vines bloom." This comparison highlights the global and timeless nature of seasonal changes and how they resonate even across great distances.

Despite the current dormancy, life persists in subtle ways. "What blossoms here are birds jostling / at feeders, pecking sunflower seeds / and millet through the snow." The birds, with their vibrant colors—"tulip red / cardinal, daffodil finch, larkspur jay"—bring a sense of spring’s promise through their activity and colors. These birds, described as a "pansybed of sparrows and juncos," symbolize the latent energy and life that continue even in the harshest conditions.

Piercy acknowledges the role of these birds as planters of trees, spreading seeds "along fences" and helping to prepare for the coming green season. The earth, "closed / to us all as a book in a language we cannot / yet read," holds the seeds, bulbs, and eggs in a state of potential, ready to burst forth when conditions allow. This imagery suggests that nature’s preparations are ongoing, even if not immediately visible to us.

The poem culminates in a celebration of this latent life: "Over them on February’s cold table I spread / a feast. Wings rustle like summer leaves." This final image evokes the act of nurturing and providing sustenance, symbolizing hope and anticipation for the renewal that is to come. The rustling wings are likened to summer leaves, reinforcing the connection between the present moment and the future season of growth and abundance.

"The New Year of the Trees" by Marge Piercy is a contemplative and hopeful meditation on the cycles of nature and the anticipation of spring. Through vivid imagery and thoughtful reflection, Piercy captures the essence of waiting and the quiet preparations that precede the burst of life. The poem serves as a reminder of the interconnectedness of all life and the continuous, often unseen, efforts that sustain and renew the natural world.

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