April this year, not otherwise
Than April of a year ago,
Is full of whispers, full of sighs,
Of dazzling mud and dingy snow;
Hepaticas that pleased you so
Are here again, and butterflies.
There rings a hammering all day,
And shingles lie about the doors;
In orchards near and far away
The grey wood-pecker taps and bores;
The men are merry at their chores,
And children earnest at their play.
The larger streams run still and deep,
Noisy and swift the small brooks run
Among the mullein stalks the sheep
Go up the hillside in the sun,
Pensively,—only you are gone,
You that alone I cared to keep.
To understand, take it in the context of the first line
“i.e. not otherwise Than April of a year ago…”
So that the author underscores that the month she writes of is not substantially different
than any other April, then uses the rest of the poem to substantiate that fact.
And deftly pulls the rug out from under this notion at the end.
can someone please tell me what the first line means? “April this year, not otherwise”