Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Jane Kenyon’s poem “Appointment” captures a moment of stillness and contemplation, where the beauty of a summer day contrasts sharply with the speaker’s inner turmoil and preoccupation. Through vivid imagery and introspective tone, Kenyon explores themes of distraction, worry, and the dissonance between the external world and internal emotions.

The poem opens with the image of a phoebe: “The phoebe flew back and forth between the fencepost and the tree— / not nest-building, just restlessly.” This depiction of the bird’s aimless movement sets the stage for the speaker’s own restless state. The phoebe’s lack of purpose mirrors the speaker’s sense of unease and inability to settle.

Kenyon then introduces the sounds of summer: “I heard the motorboat on the lake, going around and through its own wake, / towing the campers two by two.” The repetitive motion of the boat, creating and navigating its own waves, symbolizes a cyclical and perhaps futile activity, much like the speaker’s spiraling thoughts.

The speaker’s mental state is further illustrated by the line: “I thought of a dozen things to do but rejected them all / in favor of fretting about you.” This admission highlights the speaker’s preoccupation and inability to engage with the present moment, despite the apparent perfection of the day.

Kenyon paints a picture of a quintessential summer day: “It might have been the finest day of summer— / the hay was rich and dry, and the breeze / made the heart-shaped leaves of the birch tell all their secrets, / though they were lost on me….” The richness of the hay and the whispering leaves contrast with the speaker’s inability to appreciate or absorb the beauty around her, emphasizing a sense of disconnection.

The bees rummaging through lilies are described as “methodical as thieves in a chest of drawers,” an image that conveys both the industriousness of the bees and a sense of violation or intrusion. This metaphor suggests that even the natural world’s routines can feel invasive or unsettling to the troubled mind.

The speaker’s physical state mirrors her emotional one: “I saw them from the chair / nearest the cool foundation stones. / Out of the cellar window came a draught of damp and evil-smelling air.” The damp, foul air from the cellar represents the negative emotions and thoughts that seep into the speaker’s consciousness, despite the warmth and light of the summer day.

The image of the potted geraniums on the porch, “hung limp in the blaze of noon,” reflects the speaker’s own lethargy and inability to take action, even in the face of simple tasks like watering the plants. This physical inertia underscores the depth of the speaker’s preoccupation.

The poem concludes with a powerful admission: “If you had turned into the drive just then, / even with cheerful news, I doubt / I could have heard what you had to say.” This line poignantly conveys the speaker’s overwhelming concern and distraction, to the point where even positive news from a loved one would fail to penetrate her state of mind.

In “Appointment,” Jane Kenyon masterfully captures the tension between a beautiful summer day and the inner turmoil of the speaker. Through her precise and evocative language, she invites readers to reflect on the ways in which worry and preoccupation can overshadow even the most perfect moments. The poem serves as a meditation on the struggle to be present and the powerful impact of mental and emotional states on our perception of the world around us.

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