Happiness Quote by Margaret Atwood
““SPRING POEM It is spring, my decision, the earth ferments like rising bread or refuse, we are burning last year's weeds, the smoke flares from the road, the clumped stalks glow like sluggish phoenixes / it wasn't only my fault / birdsongs burst from the feathered pods of their bodies, dandelions whirl their blades upwards, from beneath this decaying board a snake sidewinds, chained hide smelling of reptile sex / the hens roll in the dust, squinting with bliss, frogbodies bloat like bladders, contract, string the pond with living jelly eyes, can I be this ruthless? I plunge my hands and arms into the dirt, swim among stones and cutworms, come up rank as a fox, restless. Nights, while seedlings dig near my head I dream of reconciliations with those I have hurt unbearably, we move still touching over the greening fields, the future wounds folded like seeds in our tender fingers, days I go for vicious walks past the charred roadbed over the bashed stubble admiring the view, avoiding those I have not hurt yet, apocalypse coiled in my tongue, it is spring, I am searching for the word: finished finished so I can begin over again, some year I will take this word too far.””
About This Quote
Source Poem: Spring Poem, unpublished, 2022
The poem blends vivid natural imagery with personal turmoil, exploring renewal, destruction, and the desire to start anew despite past harms.
In simple terms: Spring imagery reflects inner conflict and a wish for fresh beginnings.
Key Takeaway
Embrace renewal while confronting past hurts.
Themes
renewal
conflict
nature
self‑reflection
rebirth
Mood
reflective
intense
Type
poetic
confessional
When to use this quote
- gardening
- creative writing
- personal healing
Key Concepts
metaphor
cycle
contradiction
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the phoenix metaphor reveal about transformation?
- How does the poet reconcile violence with growth?
A Different Perspective
The intense imagery may alienate readers seeking clarity.
