Stanza 1:

The opening stanza of "Chocolates" begins by recounting a story about the Russian writer and physician, Anton Chekhov. Anton Pavlovich Chekhov (1860-1904) wrote plays and stories known for their detailed characterizations of men and women who were frequently frustrated in their desires to live good and meaningful lives. His sympathy for his characters and his ability to present the comedy, tragedy, and pathos of a story all at once mark him as one of the most admired storytellers of the nineteenth century. Some of his best-known short stories include "My Life" (1896), "About Love" (1898), and "The Lady with the Little Dog" (1899). His plays include The Seagull (1895), Uncle Vanya (1901), Three Sisters (1901), and The Cherry Orchard (1904). The success of Simpson's poem, in no small part, depends on readers' familiarity with either Chekhov's life or his plays and stories, or both. Chekhov frequently had visitors, and by referring to Chekhov as...