In this one end-stopped line, Bishop provides the macro setting for the poem.

Bishop uses imagery to introduce us to where the poem will take place

While “stove” is part of the six-word set, here, Bishop skillfully employs the noun to be part of a brand name. And, this is a brand name of a cast iron stove.

An annual calendar containing important dates and statistical information.

by saying the grandma is “talking to hide her tears” Bishop implies that there may be something deeper happening

happening at or near the time of an equinox.

Bishop compares rain to the teakettle’s tears. Rain could be seen as cloud tears, just like water droplets coming from a teakettle can be seen as tears. I love how she words this sentence!

This line is helping create an image within the readers head by comparing the almanac to a well know object, a bird. When thinking of a bird there is a sturdy middle section that has two light weight layered feather wings. An almanac would have a solid spine that is split with a string that would create two layered sections leading off of the solid mid section.

The almanac almost seems to be a protective force, as it watches over the grandmother and the child. It seems to tell their futures and give them a sense of safety with its jokes. It gives them comfort as it already knows what will happen.

From earlier in the poem, we see that the almanac (a paper that contains meteorological data) has been a huge part of their future plans.

I think this really says something about the feelings of the characters, and how they live by the telling of the almanac. “Why am I feeling this way? I was not told I was going to.” It hangs over them.

This stanza implies that the grandmother is crying so much, that her tears fall into her teacup. Why would she add this into her poem? Maybe to show how much she is crying?

We see there is a grandmother and a child and the grandmother is sad with tears. Something that stuck out to me was there was no mention of a grandfather, the grandmother was sad, and the child drew a picture of a man. Maybe the grandfather passed away recently or it is the anniversary of his passing.

Maybe the moon shapes are referencing how many nights they have to spend without this person. The flower bed could be something like a grave, placing flowers upon a grave or memorial in front of their house.

Perhaps he grandmother is trying to distract herself from the looming future of spending the rest of her lifetime without that special someone who they lost.

Would the flower bed imply something along the lines of death? Some funerals people give flowers to the tombs of those who pass away, making a bed of flowers.

Before this line there is a line about the grandmother’s equinoctial tears. The almanac predicts weather, and it is especially important for farmers. Equinoctial tears may be something leading up to this line, since it mentions planting tears.

It could also be like saying “time to move on” as this poem is referencing someone who is no longer there.

I think the planting of tears suggests the growth of something out of a tragedy. To continue on to new things after grieving for the old that has left you.

Impossible to understand/ interpret