The Burial of The Dead

This section starts with the speaker saying how cruel spring is which is odd because most people love spring. However the speaker is obviously much older than most, we know this because she reads much of the night and goes south in the winter which is something most elderly do. "Mixing memory and desire" tells us why the speaker believes spring is cruel because it shows that it brings up most likely good memories of youth when she used to hang out with her friends and have a good time. Now that she is older she does not do these things but instead stays inside and reads. The speaker then goes to mention how "Winter kept us warm, covering earth in forgetful snow". When winter comes it keeps everybody indoors and hides you from reality. The speaker feels that winter is better because she is most likely equal with everybody else by staying inside and reading and doesn't see the people outside having a great time like she would in the summer that reminds her of her youth. We know the speaker does have good memories that she wishes she could go back to because of lines 10-16. "My cousin's, he took me out on a sled...Marie, hold on tight. And down we went". The speaker used to have a wonderful youth but now that she is old she has no hope and nothing to look forward to.