Dear Spring
By Charles Simic
Will you please hurry with your preparations?
We are freezing up north as you procrastinate
Like a rich lady with too many gorgeous outfits
To choose from, spending hours in front of
A mirror, trying them on and unable to decide, Feels like spring is hesitating
While we trudge to the mailbox through wind
And snow, extract our unwilling fingers
From a glove to check if there’s a letter Shift: turns to more dire hope
From you, or just a bitty postcard, saying:
I’m leaving Carolina today, hurrying your way
With my new wardrobe of flowers and birds. Personification, hope that spring
sent a notification of arrival
The tease! I bet she starts and forgets one of her
Hand-painted silk fans and has to go back,
While we stamp our feet and wipe our noses here,
Worrying the wood for the stove is running out,
The snow on the roof will bring the house down.
Will you please hurry with your preparations?
We are freezing up north as you procrastinate
Like a rich lady with too many gorgeous outfits
To choose from, spending hours in front of
A mirror, trying them on and unable to decide, Feels like spring is hesitating
While we trudge to the mailbox through wind
And snow, extract our unwilling fingers
From a glove to check if there’s a letter Shift: turns to more dire hope
From you, or just a bitty postcard, saying:
I’m leaving Carolina today, hurrying your way
With my new wardrobe of flowers and birds. Personification, hope that spring
sent a notification of arrival
The tease! I bet she starts and forgets one of her
Hand-painted silk fans and has to go back,
While we stamp our feet and wipe our noses here,
Worrying the wood for the stove is running out,
The snow on the roof will bring the house down.
An analysis
This poem is about a letter written by Simic to a personified spring asking when it will be back in town. He claims she has been hesitating and not getting there soon enough. He complains about how he isn't getting a note from her saying she is in town.
This poem connects to how many people, especially in Fort Wayne, wish for spring to come earlier, even if it is still December.
The Attitude of Simic throughout this poem is hopeful and wishful throughout the letter to a personified spring.
The theme, reflected through the poem, is hope can get people through even the toughest times. And the tone is hopeful and optimistic.
This poem connects to how many people, especially in Fort Wayne, wish for spring to come earlier, even if it is still December.
The Attitude of Simic throughout this poem is hopeful and wishful throughout the letter to a personified spring.
The theme, reflected through the poem, is hope can get people through even the toughest times. And the tone is hopeful and optimistic.