be active. However, the city lights can't stay on, just as natural sunlight is scarce in winter; when they go out, they drive the people back into the warmth and safety of their homes, lonely and waiting for spring to come.

The use of the moth metaphor by Earle Birney emphasizes the fact that the farmers of this community live their lives according to the natural rhythms of the year and the changing of the seasons. In a rural environment, the weather is king. And so, when the farmers venture out to town to socialize, it is only because the weather has allowed them to. Just as the moth can only emerge from the warmth and comfort of its chrysalis into the big old world outside when nature says it can, so the farmers can only venture forth from their homes when there's a let-up in the storm.

The artificial light of the town attracts the farmers as moths to a flame. Winter is approaching, and so there's precious little natural light during the daytime. In any case, as farmers they're incredibly busy during the day and so wouldn't have time for socializing. They go to the movies and then dance the night away. But the dance hall and the cinema must close, and so, without light and all it represents, the farmers must return to the safety and warmth of their homes, their "cocoons," waiting to "hatch" once more after the coming winter has passed.

In "Winter Saturday," a (presumed) family has been cooped up for a while in their farmhouse following a snowstorm and is looking for an escape to something a little more exciting. One theme emerges: the creations of mankind will always disappoint when compared to the awe-inspiring hand of nature.

The people, themselves a creation of nature, are likened to caterpillars, emerging from the wood of their farmhouse all furred-up in winter clothing. They head for their "coccoon"—a Ford—to take them to town. They have "dreams" of light and sound, which is important to note.

This idea of having something more to entertain them is a fantasy: an illusion. As they travel, they "glide unamazed through snow" which has been "marbled and fluted" by the wind. Beauty and wonder surrounds them on this journey, but their dreams of man-made entertainment pulls them forward through the snow; they remain blind to the natural miracles. Continuing the comparison to a caterpillar, the people "hatch" from their car and "flutter" toward entertainment. However, in the end, the evening is a disappointment as "the town was less than its glow." And so they return to their farmhouse, lonely and drowsy.

The poem shows that people who cannot appreciate the novelties that nature provides will never be content with the creations of man.

The theme of “Winter Saturday” by Earle Birney is unfilled expectations. The poem describes the emergence of folks on a Saturday night during a deep cold winter. They are in search of relief from cabin fever after a snow storm. The author uses the metaphor of caterpillars emerging to go into their cocoons as the people head to their vehicles.

Furred from the farmhouse
like caterpillars from wood
they emerge, the storm blown out,
and find in the Ford their cocoon.

With high expectations for a Saturday night in town, the people make their way from the warmth of their homes. They are dressed up, “furred,” and ready to take over the town for a night. While in town they flutter about like “moths.” Some of them attend movies or go to a local establishment to dance. By the end of the evening, they realize their expectations were not met. Winter still surrounds them as they head home on the cold windy night that portends of more snow.  

But lights fail, time is false,
the town was less than its glow.