Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Alicia Suskin Ostriker's poem "April" presents a multifaceted exploration of spring, intertwining themes of renewal, optimism, and the cyclical nature of life. Through the perspectives of various characters—the old woman, the tulip, and the dog—the poem contrasts different attitudes toward the season, ultimately creating a rich tapestry of reflections on hope, vitality, and the inherent rhythms of nature.

The poem begins with a portrayal of "the optimists among us," those who find hope and purpose in the arrival of spring. These individuals are depicted as actively engaging with the world, "attending their meetings," "signing their email petitions," and "marching with their satiric signs." Their actions are imbued with a sense of belief in a "better world," even though the speaker notes that this belief may exist "for no good reason." This acknowledgment of the seemingly irrational nature of their optimism adds a layer of complexity to the poem. The old woman’s voice, who says "I envy them," introduces a note of wistfulness and perhaps skepticism, suggesting that while she admires their spirit, she also recognizes the futility or naiveté that may accompany such hopefulness.

The poem then shifts to the perspective of a tulip, whose experience of spring is purely physical and immediate. The tulip is "dancing among her friends / in their brown bed in the sun," a vivid image that conveys the joy and vitality of spring. The tulip’s surroundings—the "April breeze," the "maple canopy"—are also animated, "dancing" with greater motions and casting "greater shadows." This portrayal of nature in motion highlights the interconnectedness of all living things and the shared experience of renewal that spring brings. The tulip, representing a natural optimism that comes from simply being alive in the moment, contrasts with the old woman’s more reflective and perhaps cynical view of the season.

As the tulip dances, "the grass / hardly stirring" underscores the subtlety and quiet persistence of life’s cycles. The grass, though not as visibly active as the tulip or the trees, is part of the same concert of life, suggesting that even in the most modest forms, there is participation in the season’s renewal. The tulip’s perspective adds a layer of simplicity and acceptance to the poem, celebrating life’s ongoing rhythms without questioning or resisting them.

The final perspective is that of a dog trotting along Riverside Drive, reveling in the sensory delights of spring. The dog’s experience of the season is grounded in the physicality of the world: "What a concerto / of good stinks," the dog exclaims, highlighting the earthy, visceral pleasures of the season. The dog’s appreciation of "the violins of the river," "the tubas of the traffic," and "the trombones / of the leafing elms" transforms the urban environment into a symphony, where even the "legato / of my rivals’ piss" and "leftover meat and grease" contribute to the rich sensory experience. The dog’s joyous and unselfconscious immersion in the world contrasts with the more intellectual and abstract concerns of the optimists and the old woman, emphasizing the idea that spring’s renewal is experienced differently by each being, depending on their nature and perspective.

Through these varied perspectives, "April" explores the tension between hope and realism, the simple joy of being alive, and the sensory pleasures of the natural world. The poem acknowledges the cyclical nature of life—the seasons "go round and around"—and suggests that each cycle offers its own opportunities for renewal, even if those opportunities are not always embraced or understood in the same way by everyone. The juxtaposition of the old woman’s envy, the tulip’s dance, and the dog’s sensory delight creates a layered and nuanced reflection on spring, one that celebrates the diversity of experiences and attitudes that the season inspires.

In "April," Ostriker invites readers to consider their own responses to the changing seasons and to reflect on the ways in which optimism, renewal, and the simple pleasures of life manifest in their own lives. The poem ultimately suggests that while the external world follows its own rhythms, the inner world of each individual is shaped by how they perceive and engage with these rhythms, whether with hope, joy, skepticism, or something in between.

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