Summary

The poem “Lemonade” by Raymond Carver begins with the speaker talking about the surprising death of Jim Sears’ son. Jim Sears has been building a bookcase for the speaker. Six months after the bookcase is finished, the speaker meets Howard Sears, Jim’s father. Howard is covering for his son, who is hired to paint the speaker’s house. 

When the speaker asks about Jim, Howard tells him that Jim’s son, Jim Jr., drowned in the river last spring. He then proceeds to tell the speaker about Jim’s shock ...