Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Incident in a Rose Garden," Donald Justice presents a narrative poem that explores themes of mortality, fear, and the inevitability of death through a vivid encounter in a garden. The poem’s straightforward yet evocative language, combined with its engaging storyline, creates a powerful meditation on life’s final certainty.

The poem begins with a dramatic entrance: "The gardener came running, / An old man, out of breath. / Fear had given him legs." This immediate action sets a tense tone, indicating that something extraordinary has occurred. The gardener, an old man driven by fear, reports his encounter with Death. His detailed description—“Thin as a scythe he stood there. / I knew him by his pictures. / He had his black coat on, / Black gloves, a broad black hat”—paints a vivid and traditional image of Death, recognizable and terrifying.

The gardener’s reaction is one of sheer panic and urgency: “I ran until I found you. / Sir, I am quitting my job. / I want to see my sons / Once more before I die. / I want to see California.” His immediate decision to leave and fulfill his desires before dying highlights the human instinct to seek out loved ones and fulfill dreams when confronted with mortality. His fear transforms into a resolve to seize what time he has left.

The owner of the property, presumably the poem’s speaker, then encounters Death himself: “And there stood Death in the garden, / Dressed like a Spanish waiter.” This unexpected comparison introduces a surreal and slightly ironic tone, contrasting the fearsome image of Death with something more mundane. Death’s demeanor, described as that of someone who “likes arriving / At all appointments early,” suggests a calm patience, further humanizing this often-abstract figure.

As Death moves through the garden, examining the roses, he is depicted as a connoisseur: “I watched him pinch one bloom off / And hold it to his nose— / A connoisseur of roses— / One bloom and then another.” This imagery of Death appreciating the beauty of the roses adds a layer of complexity to his character, portraying him as more than just a harbinger of doom.

The speaker then confronts Death: “Sir, you must be that stranger / Who threatened my gardener. / This is my property, sir. / I welcome only friends here.” This direct address asserts the speaker’s authority and his desire to protect his domain and those within it from Death’s reach. However, Death responds with a surprising gentleness and familiarity: “Sir, I knew your father, / And we were friends at the end. / As for your gardener, / I did not threaten him. / Old men mistake my gestures.”

Death’s explanation reveals his misunderstood nature and his intention to meet the speaker rather than the gardener: “I only meant to ask him / To show me to his master. / I take it you are he?” This revelation reframes Death as a figure performing a duty rather than a malicious force, emphasizing the inevitability and impartiality of death. The line “Old men mistake my gestures” underscores the common human fear and misinterpretation of death’s approach.

"Incident in a Rose Garden" by Donald Justice uses a simple yet profound narrative to explore the themes of mortality and the human response to it. Through the vivid characterizations of the gardener, the speaker, and Death, Justice delves into the fears, misunderstandings, and acceptance surrounding death. The poem’s imagery and dialogue create a compelling meditation on the inevitability of death and the varied ways it is perceived and confronted by those it touches.

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