Snow on a Crocus: Formalities of a Neonaticide

Poetry. In poetry that is formal in traditional and contemporary ways, Swift closely examines a case of neonaticide--the killing of an infant, usually by its mother, soon after birth. This social problem, though not common, may be on the rise in the U. S., according to medical and crime reports. Swift's poetry approaches her subject with deep sympathy and empathy, but does not gloss over chilling details, forging a tension between the real event and her highly-crafted poetic imaging.