The Grasshopper

The grasshopper represents Cotton himself, the friend to whom the poem is dedicated. It is a symbol of enjoyment and pleasure, particularly indulgence in the pleasures of life.

Grain

Grain is a symbol of plenty. Oat is listed by name, and corn is referenced by its “waving ear” (1). These plants, which grow plentifully and were important sources of nutrition throughout the early modern era, symbolize having enough to eat, and the abundance and joy that comes along with that state.

Summer

The summer represents happiness. The long days and bright sunlight of this season are depicted in the poem as a time of relaxed joy and a lack of worries.

The Sickle

The sickle represents both the harvest and death. “But ah, the sickle!” the speaker exclaims (13). It comes to cut down the blossoming ears of grain – but it also represents the shadowy figure of...