Roethke isn't simply observing that nature follows cycles—he's describing a visceral recognition of *limitation* as liberation. Most people resist their constraints, chafing against seasons and schedules, but he's saying that acceptance of inevitable timing actually clarifies purpose. A parent who stops fighting their child's developmental stages—or a worker who stops expecting constant productivity—discovers that honoring what season you're in (rest, growth, dormancy) makes the burden lighter than the fantasy of endless spring ever could.