The poem opens up to a cold September rain falling on a house. Immediately, the reader is left with the sense of dreariness, with a feeling that this little house is surrounded by an unseen tension. The fact that Bishop refers to the building as a “house” rather than a “home” implies that this structure is acting as a structure for shelter, more than a comforting place of rest. This careful attention to vocabulary creates a sense of a cold atmosphere, which in turn is strengthened by the grandmother as she reads “jokes from the almanac, laughing and talking to hide her tears” (Bishop). This introduced element of melancholy is not too overwhelming, however, as the reader is eased back into comfort with the presence of a small child. While the grandmother busies herself with some tea, the child playfully focuses on drawing a house. The scene has now shifted to one that the reader may find some comfort and familiarity in. However, the poem is still mixed with the previous feelings of sadness. The contrast between the worried grandmother and the carefree child questions the innocence that we experienced as children. To us, the world may have seemed to be so simple. Without even recognizing it, however, there are always complications that cause pain behind what we can see. This clash between the unknown and seemingly ordinary in the end is what this poem is attempting to achieve. The six words that are repeated throughout the poem seem customary at the start,…