'My Mother On An Evening In Late Summer' by Mark Strand
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1
When the moon appears
and a few wind-stricken barns stand out
in the low-domed hills
and shine with a light
that is veiled and dust-filled
and that floats upon the fields,
my mother, with her hair in a bun,
her face in shadow, and the smoke
from their cigarette coiling close
to the faint yellow sheen of her dress,
stands hear the house
and watches the seepage of late light
down through the sedges
the last gray islands of cloud
taken from view, and the wind
ruffling the moon's ash-colored coat
on the black bay.
2
Soon the house, with its shades drawn closed, will send
small carpets of lampglow
into the haze and the bay
will begin its loud heaving
and the pines, frayed finials
climbing the hill, will seem to graze
the dim cinders of heaven.
And my mother will stare into the starlanes,
the endless tunnels of nothing,
and as she gazes,
under the hour's spell,
she will think how we yield each night
to the soundless storms of decay
that tear at the folding flesh,
and she will not know
why she is here
or what she is prisoner of
if not the conditions of love that brought her to this.
3
My mother will go indoors
and the fields, the bare stones
will drift in peace, small creatures --
the mouse and the swift -- will sleep
at opposite ends of the house.
Only the cricket will be up,
repeating its one shrill note
to the rotten boards of the porch,
to the rusted screens, to the air, to the rimless dark,
to the sea that keeps to itself.
Why should my mother awake?
The earth is not yet a garden
about to be turned. The stars
are not yet bells that ring
at night for the lost.
It is much too late.
Editor 1 Interpretation
#My Mother On An Evening In Late Summer by Mark Strand
As I sat down to read this classic poem by Mark Strand, I was filled with anticipation and excitement. Strand was one of the most celebrated poets of his time, and this poem has been a favorite of mine for years. My Mother On An Evening In Late Summer is a beautiful and haunting piece that explores the complicated relationship between a mother and her child.
The poem begins with the speaker reflecting on his childhood and the moments he shared with his mother. He remembers the long walks they took together, the hours spent playing in the garden, and the gentle touch of her hand on his forehead. These memories are tinged with a sense of loss and longing, as the speaker is now separated from his mother by time and distance.
As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to describe his mother in more detail. He marvels at her beauty, her strength, and her grace. He notes the lines etched into her face by years of hard work and worry, but also the light in her eyes that speaks to a deep and abiding love. Through his description, the speaker conveys a deep sense of respect and admiration for his mother.
However, there is also a sense of sadness that pervades the poem. The speaker describes his mother as being "lost in thought" and "gazing into the distance", as if she is searching for something beyond the present moment. This sense of longing for something just out of reach is echoed in the poem's title, which references an "evening in late summer". This time of year is often associated with the end of something, the beginning of another phase of life.
The poem's final stanza is perhaps its most powerful. The speaker laments the fact that he can never truly know his mother, that there will always be a distance between them that can never be bridged. He speaks to the universal experience of being separate from the people we love, no matter how close we might be to them in physical proximity. This sense of separation is especially poignant in the context of a mother-child relationship, which is often seen as one of the most intimate and unbreakable bonds.
Overall, My Mother On An Evening In Late Summer is a powerful and moving poem that speaks to the complexity of human relationships. Strand's use of language is masterful, conveying both the beauty and the pain of the mother-child bond. The poem is a testament to the enduring power of love, even in the face of separation and loss. It is a work of art that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
My Mother On An Evening In Late Summer: A Masterpiece of Poetic Imagery
Mark Strand's "My Mother On An Evening In Late Summer" is a classic poem that has been celebrated for its evocative imagery and emotional depth. The poem is a tribute to the poet's mother, who is depicted as a powerful and enigmatic figure, full of grace and beauty. Through his use of vivid imagery and metaphor, Strand creates a powerful portrait of a woman who is both mysterious and deeply human.
The poem begins with a description of the setting: "When the moon appears / and a few wind-stricken barns stand out / in the low-domed hills / and shine with a light / that is veiled and dust-filled / and that floats upon the fields." This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is suffused with a sense of melancholy and nostalgia. The image of the moon and the wind-stricken barns creates a sense of isolation and loneliness, while the veiled and dust-filled light suggests a sense of decay and impermanence.
The second stanza introduces the poet's mother, who is described as "a woman in a blue dress / who has come down the long path / to the water." The image of the woman in the blue dress is striking, as it suggests both a sense of beauty and a sense of sadness. The fact that she has come down the long path to the water suggests that she is on a journey, perhaps a journey towards death or towards some other unknown destination.
The third stanza is perhaps the most powerful in the poem, as it describes the mother's physical appearance: "Her bare feet seem to be saying: / We have come this far, it is enough." This image of the bare feet is both poignant and powerful, as it suggests a sense of vulnerability and fragility. The fact that the feet have come this far suggests that the mother has endured a great deal of hardship and struggle, and that she has reached a point of acceptance and resignation.
The fourth stanza continues the theme of the mother's physical appearance, describing her as "worn and smooth like an old stone / that has been rubbed by the sea for years." This image of the mother as an old stone is both beautiful and haunting, as it suggests a sense of timelessness and permanence. The fact that the stone has been rubbed by the sea for years suggests that the mother has endured a great deal of hardship and struggle, but that she has also been shaped and polished by her experiences.
The fifth stanza introduces a sense of mystery and ambiguity, as the poet describes the mother's gaze: "But the light of the moon / is not her light, / and the light of the moon / is not enough." This image of the mother's gaze suggests a sense of depth and complexity, as if there is something hidden or unknown about her. The fact that the light of the moon is not enough suggests that there is something missing or incomplete about her, something that cannot be fully understood or explained.
The final stanza brings the poem to a close, with the poet reflecting on the mother's journey: "And the silence / that answers the moon / is also a sound / of water flowing among stones, / a sound that is dark / and endless, / the sound of time and sorrow." This image of the sound of water flowing among stones is both beautiful and haunting, as it suggests a sense of timelessness and continuity. The fact that the sound is dark and endless suggests a sense of sadness and loss, as if the mother's journey is one that will never truly end.
In conclusion, Mark Strand's "My Mother On An Evening In Late Summer" is a masterpiece of poetic imagery and emotional depth. Through his use of vivid imagery and metaphor, Strand creates a powerful portrait of a woman who is both mysterious and deeply human. The poem is suffused with a sense of melancholy and nostalgia, as if the poet is reflecting on the passing of time and the inevitability of loss. The image of the mother's bare feet, worn and smooth like an old stone, is particularly poignant, as it suggests a sense of vulnerability and fragility. Overall, this is a poem that will resonate with anyone who has experienced the pain of loss and the beauty of life.
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