Otherwise

The poem begins with an image of the speaker’s physical strength: “I got out of bed / on two strong legs” (Lines 1-2). This image suggests an effortless rising and implies that the speaker sees themselves as able to pull themselves up. The first mention of a contrasting refrain that runs throughout the poem, “It might have been/otherwise” (Lines 3-4), undercuts the confident start to the day. This hint of impermanence or inevitable change gives the reader a glimpse into the undercurrent of potential physical weakness in the future.

The speaker describes their current task of eating breakfast. Though meals can be a rote chore, the speaker pays deep attention to the “cereal” (Line 5) they eat, the “sweet / milk” (Lines 6-7), and a “ripe, flawless / peach” (Line 6-7). Again, the refrain “It might / have been otherwise” (Lines 7-8), undercuts this vivid moment, hinting that eating may not always be an accessible pleasure, giving the refrain an ominous quality. The third image of the poem describes another domestic task: “I took the dog uphill / to the birch wood” (Lines 9-10). These lines echo the image of physical strength at the start of the poem when the speaker gets out of bed.