Nature
Swenson uses many of her poems to explore and contemplate the complexities of the natural world. In “By Morning,” the narrator describes a morning snowfall. She explains that the beauty of freshly-fallen snow has the power to transport adults back to their childhood and engage whole communities of people. Similarly, in “The Woods At Night,” Swenson explores the irony of owls—one of the few birds who hunt and take flight at night. She describes the owl in great detail and comments on its beauty. Then again, in “Water Picture,” Swenson describes an idyllic scene in a park. Though this poem is a bit absurdist—describing the view of the park from an arched bridge’s perspective—it still captures the simplistic beauty of nature.
Sexuality
In “Deciding,” the narrator uses allegories and metaphors to detail her personal and secret struggle with her sexuality. The narrator explains that she has kept her sexuality buried, concealed deep within her. As the narrator is intended to be representative of May Swenson, herself, who was outwardly gay, this poem is an entire metaphor for the fear that many individuals in the LGBTQ+ population may feel when faced with their own sexuality. In this way, “Deciding” represents the struggle that many LGBTQ+ individuals face when confronting their own sexuality. As the narrator admits, though she may try to control or conceal her true feelings, these feelings cannot be hidden, and must be released.
Innocence of Youth
In “By Morning,” the narrator describes a sleepy-town community, waking up the morning after a heavy snowfall. The snowfall has a unique power over the town and community. As the narrator describes, children and adults alike awoke on this morning and the adults behaved as children, having been converted back to the fond, warm memories of their childhood. Even the unkindest and unhappiest of souls reveled in the snowfall. In this way, Swenson uses this poem to show how there is a particularly beautiful innocence in youth, even youth of spirit, rather than youth of age.
