Why did John Updike write January?

January The days are short, The sun a spark, Hung thin between The dark and dark. Fat snowy footsteps Track the floor. Milk bottles burst Outside the door. The river is A frozen place Held still beneath The trees of lace. The sky is low. read more

-John Updike. in his poem, John Updike uses vivid imagery to help readers imagine the sights and sounds of January. imagery consists of Words and phrases that appeal to any of the five senses—sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch. to Create vivid imagery, writers often use specific adjectives, nouns, and verbs. read more

John Updike, in full John Hoyer Updike, (born March 18, 1932, Reading, Pennsylvania, U.S.—died January 27, 2009, Danvers, Massachusetts), American writer of novels, short stories, and poetry, known for his careful craftsmanship and realistic but subtle depiction of “American, Protestant, small-town, middle-class” life. read more