Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Return" by Audre Lorde, penned in 1955, is a contemplative poem that centers on the themes of change, absence, and the impermanence of human relationships, as mirrored by the shifting seasons. Through rich natural imagery and an emotive tone, Lorde crafts an intimate narrative that speaks volumes about the nuances of love, trust, and loneliness.

The poem opens by emphasizing what the "you" did not witness-the "turning of the leaves," "the silent browning of the grass," and "brief bright November." These natural transformations symbolize change and passage of time, elements that the absent person failed to experience or acknowledge. This failure sets the stage for the revelation of an emotional distance between the speaker and the absent individual. The imagery here not only paints a vivid picture of autumnal change but also serves as a metaphor for a relationship that has undergone a transformation, perhaps unnoticed or unacknowledged by one party.

When the "you" finally returns, it is "with the sun set," and "the bough stripped / to the curtness of winter," indicating that they come back to a relationship or a scenario that has been altered, possibly diminished by their absence. It's as if they've missed the whole process of change, arriving only to witness the aftermath-the "accomplished act" of transformation. Here, winter serves as a poignant metaphor for barrenness and emotional chill, a far cry from the warmth and vibrancy of earlier seasons.

The speaker then cites a statement that the absent person "well could say"-"I never trusted autumn." This line is pregnant with implications. Autumn, a season traditionally associated with change and letting go, becomes a metaphor for the complexities and inevitable changes in human relationships. If the person never "trusted autumn," it suggests a reluctance to embrace change, vulnerability, or even maturity in the relationship. They are indicted for not having cradled "the weeping root / of flamed October sorrel," or tasted "the bitter hard-won peace / red-browning autumn brought." These lines underscore the hardships and emotional labor that the speaker, or "one whom you loved," has gone through alone. The "bitter hard-won peace" symbolizes a form of emotional resilience or understanding reached only through experiencing and acknowledging change-something the absent person has missed out on.

The poem concludes with the powerful image of the speaker left "to face the dark alone." It's an evocative ending that reinforces the sense of abandonment and loneliness, and perhaps even a form of betrayal. The "dark" could symbolize emotional challenges, uncertainties, or even the complexity of life itself-elements that one ideally should not face alone when in a relationship built on trust and love.

In "Return," Audre Lorde skillfully employs the changing seasons as an extended metaphor to dissect the intricacies of human relationships. She captures the essence of change, absence, and the subsequent emotional fallout with a striking resonance that speaks to the reader on a deeply personal level.

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