Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Linda Pastan's poem "After a Month of Rain" reflects on the complexities of desire, contentment, and the persistence of memory in the aftermath of a prolonged period of gloom. The poem juxtaposes the rejuvenation of nature with the emotional undercurrents that remain even as the sun re-emerges, creating a rich meditation on the cyclical nature of both the external world and internal experience.

The poem opens with a seemingly straightforward declaration: "Everything I thought I wanted / is right here." This line conveys a sense of fulfillment, suggesting that the speaker has achieved or obtained the things that once seemed important. The simplicity of the statement belies the depth of its implications—what the speaker thought they wanted may not be as satisfying as anticipated, especially given the complexities introduced later in the poem.

The phrase "particularly when the sun / is making such a comeback" introduces the idea that external circumstances, such as the weather, can influence one's sense of contentment. The "comeback" of the sun after a long period of rain symbolizes a return to clarity, warmth, and optimism. This resurgence of sunlight appears to affirm the speaker's sense of having what they wanted, as if the external world is aligning with their internal desires.

However, as the poem progresses, it becomes clear that this satisfaction is not absolute. The image of the "lilac engorged / with purple" that has "recovered / from its severe pruning" serves as a metaphor for renewal and resilience. The lilac, despite having been harshly cut back, has managed to flourish again, symbolizing the potential for recovery and growth even after difficult times. The speaker seems to draw comfort from this natural resilience, perhaps seeing it as a parallel to their own emotional recovery.

Yet, there is an undercurrent of unease in the poem, hinted at with the lines "and you will be back soon / to dispel whatever it is / that overtakes me like leaf blight." Here, the speaker anticipates the return of someone—likely a significant other—who has the power to alleviate their inner turmoil. The comparison to "leaf blight" introduces a sense of disease or decay, something that subtly corrodes even in the presence of sunlight and recovery. This suggests that despite the external improvements, there remains an unresolved internal conflict or darkness that the speaker struggles to shake off.

The persistence of this inner conflict is further emphasized by the imagery of rain that lingers: "I can still / hear remnants of the rain / in the swollen stream / behind the house, in the faint / dripping under the eaves, / persistent as memory." The rain, though it has ceased, continues to exert its influence, much like memories that linger and shape our present emotional landscape. The "swollen stream" and "faint dripping" evoke a sense of ongoing accumulation, where past experiences and emotions continue to seep into the present, refusing to be fully forgotten or overcome. The rain, now a memory, remains "persistent," suggesting that the effects of past sorrow or hardship are not easily erased, even in times of renewed happiness.

The final stanza introduces a powerful contrast between the things the speaker thought they wanted and those they didn't: "And all the things I didn't think / I wanted, cut like the lilac back / to the root, push up again / from underground." This imagery of unwanted things "pushing up again" suggests the inevitable return of suppressed or neglected desires, emotions, or aspects of the self. Just as the lilac regrows from its roots after being pruned, these elements of the speaker's inner life resurface, despite efforts to cut them away. This closing image implies that there are parts of ourselves and our lives that cannot be fully controlled or eliminated—they persist, emerging even when we least expect them.

"After a Month of Rain" by Linda Pastan is a nuanced exploration of the interplay between desire, memory, and the natural cycles of renewal and decay. The poem reflects on the idea that while we may achieve what we think we want, there are deeper, often unconscious, aspects of our experience that continue to influence us, just as the remnants of rain linger after the storm has passed. Pastan's use of natural imagery, particularly the lilac and the persistent rain, highlights the inevitability of growth, change, and the return of what we may have tried to prune away. Ultimately, the poem suggests that true contentment is elusive and that the complexities of our inner lives cannot be easily resolved or neatly categorized.

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