A Locked House
The poem begins with a distant view of the subject of the poem, the house. The noun 'hill' and adverb 'still' are placed in the poem to casually rhyme with each other. Although the house is described as 'hidden in the trees,' in the first stanza, this subtle rhyme and the repetition of the word 'still,' perhaps as a filler, in 'still, we always found it locked tight,' could have a double meaning, presenting the peaceful, safe tranquility of the house. In this first stanza, Snodgrass uses two instances of sound devices to contrast 'a fool's fear,' which uses alliteration, of the house catching fire or being broken into, with the fact that it is 'safe and sound,' emphasized by sibilance. This cliché, 'safe and sound,' brings a sense of comfort in its familiarity, revealing the relief and assurance the speaker has when they find the house 'locked tight.
The foreshadowing of 'Maybe I should have thought: all such things rot, fall-' creates an uncertain and regretful tone, suggesting all might not be well in the future. Ironically, 'the house still stands, locked,' after the divorce. The continuity of the security of the home stand in its stability while it is evident that their marriage has crumbled. The final line, 'the theft and vandalism were our own,' is a metaphor that highlights the breakdown of their marriage compared to the security of the house.
Sitting Outside
The focus and subject of this poem is identified in the first line - the pieces of garden furniture, 'lawn chairs and the chaise lounge,' to be exact,' are actually used as a subtle and less macabre way of dealing with death and loss. The reader discovers pretty early on that this garden furniture was 'purchased for [Snodgrass'] father,' and throughout the poem, his decline is laid out before the reader. Initially, his father is not too attached to the furniture, as Snodgrass notes 'he seldom went when he could still work and never stayed long.' Then his physical deterioration is displayed, although the progression is almost brushed over, as Sndograss jumps from 'his left arm in a sling,' to 'then lopped off.' The verb 'lopped' seems casual and is perhaps a humorous choice, used to lighten the heavy undertones.
This poem ends with Snodgrass reflecting on his own parenthood, thinking of a time when he 'must have been filled with a child dread you could catch somebody's dying if you got too close.' The theme of death is reflected further in the natural cycle of the trees as they age, for instance, 'leaves storm down, branches crack off, the riddled bark separates, then gets shed.' This procession of events is summarized in the realization, 'of course the trees, too, may not last.'
