Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Cherry Tree" by Stephen Dobyns presents a vivid snapshot of a moment that is both timeless and transient, blending the palpable vibrancy of the present with the ominous shadows of the future. In this poem, Dobyns constructs a layered narrative that juxtaposes the innocence and immediacy of a young girl reaching for cherries against the looming, inevitable challenges of life she has yet to face.

The opening lines set the stage with rich, colorful imagery of an orchard bathed in the warm glow of morning light, as the day’s nascent beams caress the fruits of apple and cherry trees. This light does more than illuminate the scene; it casts an ethereal quality, suggesting the purity and untouched nature of the setting—a kind of Eden. The orchard is more than a simple backdrop; it is a dynamic character that reflects the girl’s current state of serenity and unspoiled beauty.

The girl, perched on a ladder, clad in a blue dress that may symbolize tranquility and youth, reaches out to grasp the ripe cherries. This action is laden with significance, serving as a metaphor for the girl's interaction with life itself. There is a precariousness in her stretch, a sense of risk that comes with every attempt to seize what one desires, a foreshadowing of the life’s challenges that she remains blissfully unaware of at this moment.

As the poem unfolds, the landscape shifts. The pastures and the mountain introduce the concept of ascension, both physical and metaphorical. However, the mountain's pink cliff looms like a "palm of a hand lifted up to break her," a sinister premonition that hints at the girl’s future vulnerability and the potential for life's hardships to crush one's spirit.

The duality of the imagery here is striking—the same hand that could offer support and care is also capable of causing destruction. This foreshadowing serves as a stark reminder that the girl, absorbed in the innocence of childhood, will eventually encounter the reality of life’s trials, including the "pain of childbirth, pain of separation and death." These are not experiences she can fathom now, as they are as distant to her as the mountain's summit is from the orchard's nurtured ground.

Yet, there is a resilience hinted at in the narrative. The girl, oblivious to fear, is described as intent on seizing her life in the same way she takes the cherries. This metaphor extends to the act of eating the fruit; she will embrace the sweetness of life, the "juice and sweet pulp," while inevitably having to cast aside the pits—the hardships and unpleasant realities. The spitting of the pits in a "high arc to the ground below" suggests a certain defiance, a refusal to let the bitterness linger.

In "The Cherry Tree," Dobyns has masterfully woven a tapestry of the present moment, rich with anticipation and hope, yet shadowed by the weight of the future. The poem speaks to the universal human experience of growth, the loss of innocence, and the bravery required to face life's unavoidable pains. Through this poignant imagery and the girl’s unspoken resolve, the reader is left contemplating the delicate balance between the sweetness of life and its inevitable sorrows.

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