A Backward Spring

Thomas Hardy
The trees are afraid to put forth buds, A
And there is timidity in the grass; B
The plots lie gray where gouged by spuds, A
And whether next week will pass B
Free of sly sour winds is the fret of each bush C
Of barberry waiting to bloom. D

Yet the snowdrop's face betrays no gloom, D

And the primrose pants in its heedless push, C
Though the myrtle asks if it's worth the fight E
This year with frost and rime F
To venture one more time F
On delicate leaves and buttons of white E
From the selfsame bough as at last year's prime,F
And never to ruminate on or remember G
What happened to it in mid-December. G
 Analysis
The poem starts with a personification, describing an
inanimate object as being a living person or animal.
The first line expresses that the trees are afraid to put
forth buds or ‘ bloom’ . Being afraid is an emotion
shown by humans in the case of fright.
Buds are usually spouted in the spring where trees
begin a new and fresh life after the winter season
Line 2 also bares a personification of the grass
showing timidity, suggesting that the grass is shy.
These personifications suggest that nature is hesitant
in continuing life. It is a backward spring because
usually nature is more confident around spring as all
natural life has been ‘ hibernating’ during the winter.
This time, spring is the opposite.
‘ ’ the plots lie gray’ ’ suggests that there is
dullness in the earth and ‘ ’ gouged by spuds’ ’
make it seem as though the plots were dug out by the
spuds.
Hardy seems to doubt ‘ ’ whether next week will
pass’ ’ without being interrupted by the sour winds
This shows worry of the barberry bushes as they are
unsure if they will bloom peacefully. This hints to
another unusual spring.
‘ ’ yet the snowdrops face betrays no gloom’ ’
even though there is gloom occuring, the snowdrops
‘ ’ face’ ’ does not display this. Another
personification as snowdrops do not have a literal face.
The primrose pants make a heedless push – they
are careless in their push whilst the myrtle asks if
its worth the fight – it wonders if it makes sense
to try
Frost and rime during spring is another hint to an
unusual spring as at this time winter should be
completely gone. The title itself suggests that it is
a backward spring as things are being done
differently.
‘ ’ Buttons of white’ ’ suggests there is a
white atmosphere; snow, which only occurs during
winter.
Speaker
The speaker in the poem is most likely Hardy
himself as he retells what is happening during that
spring.
 Tone
Gloomy
Overwhelmed
Longsuffering