In the poem, the narrator is overly stressed and dealing with problems that come with everyday life. Her child had the flu and the fire won't light because the wood is wet and covered in ice. The phrase "sitting on the couch my spine collides with all her bones..." implies that the narrator is so exhausted that her spine can no longer hold her up (Minot). As she stares at her husband's back, she suddenly concludes that he is the man she has always been looking for. That the moment she sees him, all the stress she felt throughout the day melts away. Overall, she is showing that even when life gets tough she can count on her husband to help her carry the heavy load. True love is about being there for each other and helping each other get through the not-so-good days. Her husband trying to light a fire for his family is a small gesture that means so much more. The narrator never mentions his physical appearance because with true love it doesn't matter. In true love, which is once again shown by the narrator, the most important thing is that the two souls unite