“This is the easy time, there is nothing doing.”

The speaker reflects on a period of relative calm and inactivity.

“I have whirled the midwife’s extractor,”

The speaker metaphorically compares themselves to a midwife, suggesting a role in the process of creation or extraction.

“I have my honey,”

The speaker has gathered their own “honey,” symbolizing the fruits of their labor or creative output.

“Six jars of it,”

The specific quantity of honey emphasizes abundance and productivity.

“Six cat’s eyes in the wine cellar,”

This line suggests storing the honey in a wine cellar, with “cat’s eyes” possibly referring to the shape or color of the jars.

“Wintering in a dark without window”

The speaker describes spending the winter in a dark, windowless space.

“At the heart of the house”

This suggests a central or core location within the speaker’s dwelling.

“Next to the last tenant’s rancid jam”

References the remnants of the previous occupant’s possessions, indicating a sense of decay or neglect.

“and the bottles of empty glitters ——”

Further description of discarded or forgotten items, perhaps reflecting a sense of emptiness or superficiality.

“Sir So-and-so’s gin.”

References alcohol left behind by a previous occupant, adding to the atmosphere of desolation.

“This is the room I have never been in”

The speaker acknowledges unfamiliarity with their own internal or psychological space.

“This is the room I could never breathe in.”

Suggests discomfort or suffocation in confronting certain aspects of the self.

“The black bunched in there like a bat,”

Metaphorical description of darkness or negativity gathering within the speaker.

“No light”

Emphasizes the absence of illumination or clarity.

“But the torch and its faint”

Introduces a faint source of light, offering a glimmer of hope or guidance.

“Chinese yellow on appalling objects ——”

Describes the faint light illuminating objects that evoke a sense of horror or disgust.

“Black asininity. Decay.”

Further emphasizes the darkness and decay present in the room.

“Possession.”

Suggests a sense of being controlled or owned by the darkness or negative aspects of the self.

“It is they who own me.”

Reinforces the idea of being controlled or influenced by internal or external forces.

“Neither cruel nor indifferent,”

Indicates that these forces are not necessarily malicious, but still exert power over the speaker.

“Only ignorant.”

Implies that the controlling forces lack awareness or understanding.

“This is the time of hanging on for the bees—the bees”

Shifts focus to the survival of bees during winter, using them as a metaphor for resilience and endurance

.

“So slow I hardly know them,”

Describes the bees’ slow movements, suggesting a sense of detachment or unfamiliarity.

“Filing like soldiers”

Compares the bees’ movements to that of soldiers, highlighting their disciplined behavior.

“To the syrup tin”

Indicates the bees’ reliance on artificial sustenance during the winter months.

“To make up for the honey I’ve taken.”

Suggests a sense of guilt or responsibility on the part of the speaker for taking the bees’ honey.

“Tate and Lyle keeps them going,”

References Tate & Lyle, a sugar company, suggesting the bees’ dependence on artificial food sources.

“The refined snow.”

Describes the sugar as “refined snow,” emphasizing its purity and artificial nature.

“It is Tate and Lyle they live on, instead of flowers.”

Emphasizes the bees’ reliance on artificial food sources due to the absence of natural floral resources during winter.

“They take it. The cold sets in.”

Describes the bees consuming the artificial food as winter intensifies.

“Now they ball in a mass,”

Describes the bees clustering together for warmth and protection.

“Black”

Indicates the color of the bees’ mass.

“Mind against all that white.”

Suggests a contrast between the dark mass of bees and the surrounding white snow.

“The smile of the snow is white.”

Metaphorically describes the snow as smiling, contrasting with the darkness of the bees.

“It spreads itself out, a mile-long body of Meissen,”

Describes the snow as extending like a long, white body made of Meissen porcelain, emphasizing its beauty and purity.

“Into which, on warm days,”

Suggests the melting of the snow on warm days.

“They can only carry their dead.”

Indicates that the bees can only remove their dead from the hive when the snow melts.

“The bees are all women,”

Indicates that only female bees remain in the hive during winter.

“Maids and the long royal lady.”

Describes the female bees as workers and the queen bee.

“They have got rid of the men,”

Indicates that the male bees have been expelled from the hive.

“The blunt, clumsy stumblers, the boors.”

Describes the male bees in disparaging terms, suggesting their uselessness during winter.

“Winter is for women ——”

Suggests that winter is a time of survival and resilience for female bees and by extension, women.

“The woman, still at her knitting,”

Describes a woman engaged in domestic activities during winter.

“At the cradle of Spanish walnut,”

Suggests the woman’s connection to nature and nurture, symbolized by the cradle made of Spanish walnut wood.

“Her body a bulb in the cold and too dumb to think.”

Metaphorically describes the woman’s body as a bulb, dormant and inactive during winter.

“Will the hive survive, will the gladiolas”

Raises questions about the survival of the hive and the potential for renewal.

“Succeed in banking their fires”

Metaphorically refers to the preservation of energy or life force during winter.

“To enter another year?”

Raises questions about the cycle of life and the passage of time.

“What will they taste of, the Christmas roses?”

Suggests anticipation for the arrival of spring and the renewal of life.

“The bees are flying. They taste the spring.”

Indicates the arrival of spring and the bees’ ability to sense its arrival, symbolizing renewal and regeneration.