Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Robert Hass's poem "Late Spring" begins with the onset of warmth in mid-May, a pivotal moment that signals the shift to summer. Leif's casual remark about putting on shorts and staying in them all day captures the simplicity and joy of the season's change. The poem evokes a sense of awakening and transition, where the morning sun invites one to step outside, savor coffee, and bask in the increasing daylight.

The arrival of strawberries in the markets and the anticipation of peaches highlight the abundance and vibrancy of late spring. The poem shifts to the culinary realm, where the availability of cheap squid prompts the exploration of diverse recipes, blending Japanese and Italian culinary traditions. This suggests a time of experimentation and enjoyment, where the season's bounty invites creativity.

Hass intertwines the sensory experiences of food, light, and dreams. The extended daylight not only elongates the days but also intensifies the strangeness of dreams, likened to jars of octopus glimpsed under a summer moon on a fisherman's boat. This imagery merges the exotic with the everyday, creating a surreal atmosphere.

As the day transitions to evening, the poem describes the communal sharing of stories before dinner, reflecting the close-knit nature of neighborhood relations that develop a "village intensity." The fog, personified through the Miwok chant, adds a touch of cultural and historical depth, reminding readers of the indigenous presence and their connection to the land.

The poem moves to the quiet observation of children sleeping, a scene filled with tenderness and nostalgia. Leif, mistaken for Luke in the narrative, underscores the passage of time and the changes that come with it. Leif, now taller than his father and often away, contrasts with the younger Luke, who sleeps soundly after a day of play. Kristin, talking to neighborhood boys, further emphasizes the dynamic and evolving nature of family life.

The final lines acknowledge the inevitable changes and the dreamlike quality of the narration. Hass reflects on the rhythm of life, which keeps him awake and aware of the continuous transformations around him. The poem captures the essence of late spring, a time of growth, abundance, and change, infused with the pleasures of the present and the subtle undercurrents of nostalgia and anticipation.

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