In each of the seven stanzas, Bishop introduces a new concept or idea such as “September rain”, “Little Marvel Stove”, “almanac” and a few more. She ties in these symbols in the first stanza eluding to each of their roles. In the end, the symbols are concluded in the last and only tercet with a parallel to their humanly characteristics such as “tears”, “draws” and “sings”. The middle five stanzas become somewhat monotonous as the repetition of those same three symbols remain consistent. Through this repetition, Bishop tells a story. She shares a seemingly simple story of a grandmother’s interactions between an almanac and a child. However, it seems to represent something more.
Bishop uses the almanac and Little Marvel Stove to brig out certain characteristics of the grandmother. It becomes apparent that she in an emotional state as the setting starts with “September rain falls” and continues as she “read jokes from the almanac” when, in fact, there are no jokes in the almanac (but maybe to the insane). This theme continues as the child enters the picture in stanza two. Even with the child, she drinks out of a “teacup full of brown tears.” Her tears expand
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