Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Foliage" by Gail Mazur is an evocative meditation on the cyclical nature of life, beauty, and mortality as reflected in the changing seasons. The poem captures the fleeting vibrancy of autumn, set against the backdrop of the coming cold, and reflects on the interconnectedness between human existence and nature.

The poem begins with a vivid, empathetic image: “Even the man who dozes on cardboard / in the Common, wearing a bright knit cap, / has picked Clover and Ladies’ Thumb to stick / in the cosmos of his shopping cart.” This opening situates the reader in a public park, likely the Boston Common, and highlights the resourcefulness and quiet dignity of the homeless man who has created his own microcosm of beauty amidst hardship. By choosing to include these small, hardy plants in his cart, he creates a poignant image of resilience and the human inclination to find beauty, even in difficult circumstances. The juxtaposition of the humble “Clover and Ladies’ Thumb” with the term “cosmos” elevates his actions, suggesting an appreciation for the grandness inherent in small acts.

The speaker’s observation, “These last warm days, wanting to deny / what’s frozen and gray ahead,” sets the tone for the rest of the poem, where the warmth and color of autumn stand in stark contrast to the inevitable arrival of winter. This denial of the impending cold embodies the natural human desire to linger in moments of comfort and beauty, knowing full well that they are temporary. The speaker’s awareness of the cyclical nature of seasons underscores a deeper acceptance of mortality and change.

Mazur’s admiration for the “star turns of my town’s great trees” evokes an image of the trees as performers in a grand, natural display. The trees’ colors—“Sunbursts, and the alizarin crimson / of our maples’ explosions”—capture the peak of autumn’s beauty, described with language that suggests both brilliance and the violence of transformation. The phrase “a kind of payoff / (I want to think) for all the dying” hints at the speaker’s attempt to reconcile the beauty of autumn with the reality that it is also a precursor to death and decay. This line encapsulates the tension between awe and melancholy, the realization that even the most striking natural phenomena are rooted in impermanence.

The line “yet something I’m part of—part / of me—like / my feet, planted deferentially / in this old park” emphasizes the speaker’s connection to this cycle. The use of the word “deferentially” suggests a humility before nature, an acknowledgment of its power and the speaker’s place within it. The image of feet planted in the park roots the speaker physically and metaphorically, reinforcing the sense of belonging and shared existence with the trees, the seasons, and the other people who pass through this public space.

“My hands red at my sides, / my head nodding and shaking in the leafy air” closes the poem with a gesture of acceptance and contemplation. The hands, “red at my sides,” echo the color of the leaves and suggest a deep, visceral connection to the natural world. The head “nodding and shaking” could imply a mix of agreement, understanding, and subtle resistance, a physical response to the acceptance of life’s beautiful and sorrowful realities.

“Foliage” ultimately presents a vivid reflection on the beauty of the present moment and the inevitability of change. Mazur’s descriptions move from the public, shared experiences of people in the park to the private, introspective space of the speaker’s own emotions. The poem captures the delicate balance between admiration for nature’s temporary brilliance and the somber acknowledgment of what lies ahead. Through its detailed imagery and thoughtful tone, “Foliage” invites readers to appreciate the transient moments of beauty in life, while also accepting their place in the continuous cycle of growth, decline, and renewal.

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