Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Ice" by Gail Mazur is a poignant reflection on the ephemeral moments of childhood and the deep, yet fleeting, connections we form. The poem paints a vivid picture of winter in Ware’s Cove, where children and their families come together around the shared activity of skating. Through detailed imagery and careful attention to the nuances of human interaction, Mazur evokes themes of innocence, joy, and the bittersweet nature of time.

The opening lines set the scene in a warming house where “children lace their skates, bending, choked, over their thick jackets.” This image of children preparing for skating, bundled in layers, hints at both the physical effort and the excitement that precede stepping onto the ice. The warmth of the Franklin stove and the cozy atmosphere make the place so inviting that “it’s hard to imagine why anyone would leave,” creating a contrast between the safety of the inside and the allure of the cold, open ice outside. This duality emphasizes the comfort of familiarity and the irresistible call of exploration and play.

Mazur moves the narrative outward, describing the ice as it transforms throughout December. The “first sheer ice, black, then white and deep” suggests a progression from something fragile and transparent to a thicker, more substantial surface. This evolution reflects the season’s natural rhythm and serves as a metaphor for the gradual solidification of experience and memory. The trucks that arrive with men to construct the hockey rink introduce a sense of structure and community, showing how the town comes together to create spaces for shared enjoyment.

The description of the children’s skating—“An hour of skating after school, of trying wobbly figure-8’s, an hour of distances moved backwards without falling”—captures the mixture of determination and playfulness that defines youth. These moments, filled with small victories and persistent efforts, resonate as markers of growing confidence and joy. Mazur’s imagery of twilight descending on the cove, with the warming house becoming “steamy with girls pulling on boots, their chafed legs aching,” reinforces the physical toll of such activities while also suggesting the warmth of camaraderie and shared experiences.

The poem shifts focus as night falls and the hockey players continue their game “until it’s dark, until supper.” This perseverance hints at the boundless energy and passion of youth, the way time seems to pause for play until real life—signaled by supper—calls them back. The scene transitions to a quieter, more intimate moment: “At night, a shy girl comes to the cove with her father.” This line signals a change in tone, from the bustling energy of the day to the stillness of evening, where a different kind of connection unfolds.

The girl’s experience skating with her father is tender and profound: “Although there isn’t music, they glide arm in arm onto the blurred surface together, braced like dancers.” This image conveys both the elegance and fragility of the moment. The absence of music emphasizes the simplicity of their bond, the way they create their own rhythm in the silence of the night. The girl’s thought—“She thinks she’ll never be so happy”—is heartachingly innocent, capturing the intensity of childhood joy and the belief in the timelessness of such moments.

The final lines carry a mix of wonder and melancholy: “for who else will find her graceful, find her perfect, skate with her in circles outside the emptied rink forever?” This closing thought underscores the unique and cherished nature of the bond between the girl and her father. It also hints at the realization that these moments are fleeting, that this sense of being seen and cherished in her perfection will be hard to replicate as she grows older. The “emptied rink” becomes a symbol of the passage of time, the inevitable departure from innocence, and the quiet spaces that remain in memory long after the moment has passed.

"Ice" is a beautiful encapsulation of childhood’s fleeting nature and the pure connections that define it. Mazur’s attention to detail and the gentle, reflective tone invite readers to recall their own experiences of joy, warmth, and the poignant awareness that such moments, while temporary, leave lasting imprints. The poem is a reminder of the transient beauty of youth and the deep emotional resonance carried within simple, shared acts.

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