Before the Eggs Hatch — Summary

The poem catches a small, still moment in nature. The speaker notices two geese walking near eggs that have not hatched yet. Instead of doing anything dramatic, the geese are simply eating dead grass, close by. The phrase “Before the eggs hatch” gives the scene a sense of anticipation — something new is coming, but for now life goes on in an ordinary, unhurried way. The dead grass hints at late winter or early spring, the last of the old season still present before the hatchlings arrive. The mood is calm and watchful. There is no excitement or alarm, just quiet attention to what the geese are doing. The speaker seems patient and observant, noticing the plain, everyday activity as part of the waiting. The poem’s short, unrhymed lines match that simplicity. It leaves the reader in the same peaceful pause, aware that change is near but not here yet.