Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Set of Seasons" by Donald Hall delves into the fluidity and subjectivity of perception, particularly in relation to the natural cycles of the seasons. Through its exploration of how one interprets and internalizes these cycles, the poem raises questions about reality, expectation, and the personal experience of time.

The poem opens with a sense of doubt: "He suspects that the seasons / Are not as they should be." This suspicion sets the tone for the rest of the poem, suggesting an inherent uncertainty about the natural order. The rhetorical question that follows, "How / Should he know that seasons / Are not to be suspected?" implies that such suspicion might be misplaced or futile, yet it is a natural part of human curiosity and perception.

"This gelatin of air / And splendid haze infers / Mistaken complements / To circumstance and phrase." Here, Hall uses sensory imagery to describe the atmosphere, likening it to gelatin—a substance that is both malleable and somewhat opaque. The "splendid haze" adds to this sense of indistinctness, suggesting that the perceived irregularities in the seasons might be mere illusions or misinterpretations. The phrase "Mistaken complements" hints at the idea that our perceptions might not accurately reflect reality, that what we see and feel might not correspond directly to the true nature of the seasons.

The question "How should he come to know?" reiterates the theme of uncertainty and the difficulty of discerning the true nature of things. "And how to score the seasons, / When he is making them / As red as grass, backwards?" This line suggests a subjective and possibly incorrect interpretation of the seasons, colored by personal experience and bias. The imagery of making the seasons "as red as grass, backwards" emphasizes the idea of reversal and unnaturalness, indicating a discord between perception and reality.

The final stanza offers a resolution of sorts: "Sir, the beginnings of pleasure / Erupt from the green and the red, / Scored in the head as grass, / Seasonal, unsuspected." Here, Hall acknowledges that despite the confusion and misinterpretation, there is a fundamental joy and pleasure that arises from the natural cycles, regardless of how they are perceived. The eruption of pleasure from "the green and the red" suggests a return to the basics of nature, where these colors symbolize growth, life, and the changing seasons. The phrase "Scored in the head as grass" implies that these perceptions, though possibly flawed, are deeply ingrained and form a part of our understanding of the world. The use of "seasonal, unsuspected" encapsulates the poem’s theme, highlighting the natural, yet surprising, continuity and renewal of life.

"Set of Seasons" by Donald Hall uses rich imagery and thought-provoking questions to explore the subjective nature of perception, especially in relation to the cycles of nature. Through its contemplation of doubt and misunderstanding, the poem ultimately suggests that while our interpretations may be flawed, the fundamental rhythms of the seasons continue to bring pleasure and renewal, often in unexpected ways.

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