Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Jorie Graham's poem "How Morning Glories Could Bloom at Dusk" is a meditation on the natural rhythms of life and the intrinsic, almost mystical connection between time, nature, and the human heart. This work explores the continuity of life and the perpetual cycles that govern the natural world, suggesting that even in darkness, life finds a way to follow its inherent patterns.

The poem begins with an assertion about the heart's persistence: "Left to itself the heart continues, as the tamarind / folds its leaves every night and the mimosa, / even in perpetual darkness, opens and shuts / with the sun." Here, Graham draws a parallel between the heart and specific plants that exhibit daily rhythms independent of external light. This simile emphasizes the idea that certain natural processes are deeply ingrained, functioning on an internal clock that transcends external conditions.

Graham then enumerates various flowers and their respective times of blooming: "cat's-ears open at six, african marigolds, lilies / at seven, at eight the passionflower." This catalog of blooms suggests a precise, almost mechanical order to nature's beauty. Each flower, like a cog in a larger mechanism, plays its part in a grander design. The mention of "Its light awaits the souls of the living, its birds / for the branches to unfold in song" imbues the natural world with a sense of anticipation and harmony, where every element is interdependent.

The line "the end of its year awaits each noon the opening / of the chicory of the meadow, and its meadows / imagine other sleepless flower beds" expands the scope of the poem, suggesting a broader cycle that extends beyond the daily to the annual. This imagery evokes a sense of endless renewal and the interconnectedness of all living things. The meadows "imagine" other flower beds, suggesting a continuous, collective consciousness that permeates the natural world.

Graham posits, "If there is another world, then this is it: / the real, the virtual, the butterfly / over the evening primrose." This assertion collapses the distinction between the real and the virtual, proposing that the beauty and complexity of the natural world are a form of reality as profound as any metaphysical or imagined realm. The butterfly hovering over the evening primrose becomes a symbol of this unity, representing both the delicate, fleeting nature of life and the persistent beauty that endures.

The poem acknowledges the possibility of error in perception: "The error involved is minimal, it can be corrected: / the blue of the sky / is due to the scattering of sunlight / on its way out of the sky." This scientific explanation serves as a reminder that our understanding of the world is subject to interpretation and correction. However, Graham quickly returns to the theme of natural inevitability with the lines "But no one said how slow, how willing." These closing words emphasize the gradual, patient unfolding of natural processes and the inherent acceptance within the natural world.

In "How Morning Glories Could Bloom at Dusk," Jorie Graham elegantly weaves together themes of time, nature, and the human condition. The poem celebrates the inherent rhythms and cycles that define life, suggesting a profound interconnectedness that transcends individual existence. Through her vivid imagery and thoughtful reflections, Graham invites the reader to contemplate the beauty and mystery of the natural world and our place within it.

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