Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Alicia Suskin Ostriker’s poem "The Change" captures a moment of intense emotional and natural transition, where the speaker wrestles with the frustration of stasis and the slow, almost imperceptible movement towards change. The poem explores the tension between the visible world, stuck in a late winter freeze, and the inevitable, if hidden, forces of renewal and transformation that are beginning to stir beneath the surface. Through the lens of a mother-daughter relationship, the poem delves into themes of aging, generational distance, and the natural cycles that govern both the earth and human life.

The poem begins with an urgent declaration: "Happening now! it is happening now!" This repetition conveys a sense of immediacy, a need to recognize the significance of the present moment, even as the external world appears static and unchanging. The speaker drives her daughter to a riding lesson, traveling through a landscape that is bleak and lifeless after "grey March weeks." The description of the "thin curving road" and the "brown stuff-still tangled, bare" sets a scene of desolation, where winter’s hold is yet to loosen, and nothing seems to begin anew. The repeated observation that there is "nothing beginning" in the landscape emphasizes the speaker’s frustration with the slow arrival of spring, a season traditionally associated with rebirth and renewal.

The imagery of the "mud, the vines, the corpse-like trees / and their floor of sodden leaves" paints a picture of a world that is stuck between states—no longer fully winter but not yet spring. The speaker’s exasperation with this in-between state is palpable; she expresses a desire to "pull the steering wheel from its socket, or tear [her] own heart out," a dramatic expression of the frustration that comes with waiting for change that seems endlessly deferred. The repetition of the word "freeze" underscores the stagnation that the speaker feels, both in the natural world and, by extension, in her own life.

The speaker’s frustration is not only with the natural world but also with her relationship with her daughter. The daughter, who is described as "surly" and "unconversational," represents another form of stasis, an emotional distance that mirrors the unresponsive landscape. The daughter’s rejection of her mother’s touch and her comparison of the speaker to "frozen mud" highlight the generational gap and the feelings of isolation that come with it. The mother’s desire to connect with her daughter, to share in the frustrations and the longings for change, is met with resistance, further deepening the sense of alienation.

Despite the surface stillness, the poem insists that "it is happening," that change is indeed occurring, even if it is not yet visible. The planet, "swing[ing] in its orbit forward," symbolizes the inevitable progression of time and the natural cycles that govern life. The melting that "trickles under the ground, to ends of roots" serves as a metaphor for the slow, unseen processes that will eventually lead to visible transformation. The speaker’s acknowledgment of this underground movement suggests a grudging acceptance of the patience required to witness change, both in nature and in her relationship with her daughter.

"The Change" is a powerful exploration of the tension between the desire for immediate transformation and the slow, often painful process by which change actually occurs. Ostriker captures the frustration of being caught in a moment of stasis, where the world seems unyielding and unresponsive, yet also points to the underlying forces that are quietly at work, preparing for a future that is not yet visible. The poem resonates with the universal experience of waiting for change, whether it is the arrival of spring, the thawing of a relationship, or the passage of time that brings about personal growth and renewal. Through its vivid imagery and emotional depth, "The Change" speaks to the resilience required to endure these in-between moments and the hope that sustains us as we wait for the world to shift.

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