The Seasons explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Nature and the Divine

  The poem celebrates the natural cycle of seasons and the bounty they provide, linking earthly pleasures to the divine order.

Key passages

• “W’en de leaves begin to fall, An’ de fros’ is on de ground, An’ de ’simmons is a-ripenin’ on de tree; W’en I heah de dinner call, An’ de chillen gadder ’round, ’Tis den de ’possum is de meat fu’ me.”

  When the leaves fall, frost covers the ground, and persimmons ripen on the tree, and I hear the dinner call and the children gather around, that is when possum is the meat for me.

  The speaker associates autumn with the family gathering and the seasonal treat of possum.

• “W’en de wintertime am pas’ An’ de spring is come at las’, W’en de good ole summer sun begins to shine; Oh! my thoughts den tek a turn, An’ my heart begins to yearn Fo’ dat watermelon growin’ on de vine.”

  When winter is over and spring finally arrives, and the good old summer sun begins to shine, my thoughts then turn and my heart yearns for that watermelon growing on the vine.

  The speaker's desire shifts to watermelon as the warmer seasons approach.

• “Now, de yeah will sholy bring ’Round a season fu’ us all, Ev’y one kin pick his season f’om de res’; But de melon in de spring, An’ de ’possum in de fall, Mek it hard to tell which time o’ year am bes’.”

  Now, the year will surely bring a season for us all; everyone can pick their season from the rest. But the melon in spring and the possum in fall make it hard to tell which time of year is best.

  The speaker concludes that both spring and fall offer such delights that choosing the best season is difficult.