# In February explained — Poetry

> Chapter companion for Poetry by George MacDonald.

## What happens

The poem reflects on the dark rains of February, celebrating the hidden birth of spring and urging faith in God's promises written in nature—hope, love, and joy—despite winter's weariness.

## Themes in this chapter

### Nature as Divine Revelation

The poem interprets natural signs—violets, rains, and winds—as God's handwriting conveying hope, love, and joy.

### Hope and Patience

The speaker urges joyful belief in what remains and trust in God's promises despite winter's gloom.

## Character check-ins

### Unknown

The speaker addresses 'thou' and reflects on faith in God's handwriting.

### God

God is portrayed as the author of hope, love, and joy in nature.

### Hope

Personified as one of the words God writes in the first violet.

## Key lines

> Now in the dark of February rains, Poor lovers of the sunshine, spring is born, The earthy fields are full of hidden corn, And March’s violets bud along the lanes; Therefore with joy believe in what remains.

Even in the gloomy February rains, spring is secretly arriving; the fields hold unseen grain, and violets are budding. So take joy and trust in what is left.

_The opening lines encourage faith in the hidden renewal of spring._

> “Hope” writes he, “Love” in the first violet, “Joy,” even from Heaven, in songs and winds and trees; And having caught the happy words in these While Nature labours with the letters yet, Spring cannot cheat us, though her hopes be broken, Nor leave us, for we know what God hath spoken.

God writes 'Hope' and 'Love' in the first violet, and 'Joy' in songs, winds, and trees. Even as nature struggles to form these messages, spring cannot deceive or abandon us because we trust God's word.

_The poem concludes with a declaration of faith in divine promises inscribed in the natural world._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters/in-february
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/poetry_8_se/chapters