Coats

Kenyon, Jane

Primary Category: Literature / Poetry

Genre: Poem

Annotated by:
Coulehan, Jack
  • Date of entry: Aug-13-1996

Summary

This short (10 line) poem presents a simple scene. A man leaves the hospital, carrying a woman's coat. "Clearly she would not need it." The weather is mild for December, but the man has zipped his coat, "preparing / for irremediable cold."

Commentary

A marvel of concentrated feeling. In a few brief words, none of which actually names a feeling, the poet evokes inconsolable loss.

Primary Source

Constance

Publisher

Graywolf

Place Published

St. Paul, Minn.

Edition

1993