Summer Evening by James Agee: The poem and Analysis

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The poem

Bandstands every tuesday evening

Bring us to the drawling square:

Braid, glad horn, blunt drum, commend us

Each another, shed of care.

Locusts with enthusiasm

Celebrate the spended day:

In the dappling shadowed porchswing

Love finds out the usual way.

Children are composed this season.

There is hope among us yet.

Hope can cut the roots of reason:

And the sorrowful man forget.

The Analysis 

"Summer Evening" by James Agee is a nostalgic and reflective poem that captures the essence of a summer evening, highlighting themes of community, music, love, and hope.

The poem begins by setting the scene of a community gathering in the town square, where bandstands are erected every Tuesday evening. This imagery suggests a sense of routine and tradition, as the townspeople come together to enjoy music and each other's company. The music, described as a "Braid, glad horn, blunt drum," is portrayed as a unifying force that brings people together and helps them to temporarily shed their cares and worries.

The second stanza introduces the image of locusts celebrating enthusiastically, adding to the lively and festive atmosphere of the summer evening. The mention of the "dappling shadowed porchswing" evokes a sense of comfort and intimacy, suggesting that love is found in simple, familiar ways during this season of warmth and leisure.

The final stanza takes a more introspective turn, as the speaker reflects on the composed nature of children during this season and expresses hope for the future. However, the speaker also acknowledges the potentially destabilizing nature of hope, noting that it "can cut the roots of reason" and cause the sorrowful man to forget his troubles. This juxtaposition of hope and reason adds depth to the poem, suggesting that while hope can be a powerful force for good, it can also lead to a certain degree of naivety or recklessness.

Overall, "Summer Evening" is a lyrical and evocative poem that captures the beauty and complexity of a summer evening. Through its vivid imagery and thoughtful reflections, the poem invites readers to contemplate the fleeting nature of happiness and the enduring power of hope.