Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Pomecitron Tree" by Conrad Aiken is a richly detailed and symbolically dense poem that intertwines themes of nature, human desire, and the interplay of the minute with the vast. The poem creates a vivid tapestry of life, capturing both the grandeur and subtlety of the natural world and its reflection in the human psyche.

The opening stanza sets the scene with a "skeleton leaf" amidst eglantine and celandine, framing a moment in time that seems to stretch endlessly. The juxtaposition of the leaf with the "snail's deliberate pilgrimage" suggests a contemplation of the slow, inevitable progress of life and time. This imagery of small, seemingly insignificant elements of nature is contrasted with the "stupendous hour" where life, represented by the unfurling flower, unfolds majestically.

The poem then shifts to a human presence, a woman who "Dreams by the pomecitron tree." This introduction of the human element brings a different dimension to the poem, where the focus moves from the macroscopic observation of nature to the internal world of human thoughts and desires.

Aiken explores the complexity of human emotions, indicating that the woman's thoughts are not solely driven by lust. The mention of "the sad shapes of humankind" suggests a deeper, more reflective state of mind, contemplating the broader aspects of human existence.

The exploration of the natural world continues with the description of an ant journeying through the landscape of geraniums. This ant's adventure, scaling the "green-jointed column stalks" and venturing into "halls of scarlet," symbolizes exploration, curiosity, and the daring to venture into the unknown. The ant's intrusion and subsequent departure to consume her favorite rose hint at the natural cycle of life, where beauty and destruction coexist.

The poem then returns to the theme of lust, described as a "deliberate gust" that stirs the leaves and caresses the woman's breast. The imagery of a petal and a bee being blown from the pomecitron tree onto her breast is laden with sexual connotations, symbolizing the intrusion of desire into her contemplative state.

This intrusion is not just physical but also psychological, as the "fiery-winged wounding kiss" penetrates her bosom and reaches the "world of men" within her mind. This metaphor suggests the awakening of desires, thoughts, and perhaps memories, triggered by the sensual experience.

The final stanza delves deeper into the woman's psyche, where the men in the "kingdom of her mind" begin to stir and move along a "subterranean road." This imagery suggests an awakening of subconscious thoughts and desires, perhaps long repressed or dormant, now coming to the surface. Meanwhile, the natural world continues its course, as the ant climbs a "enormous rhubarb plant," indicating the ongoing, indifferent march of nature amidst human turmoil.

In "Pomecitron Tree," Aiken masterfully weaves together the beauty and complexity of the natural world with the depth and intricacy of human emotion and thought. The poem invites the reader to contemplate the interconnectedness of all things, the small and the vast, the internal and the external, and the ever-present dance between nature and the human mind. Through vivid imagery and symbolic language, the poem creates a rich, multi-layered narrative that explores the themes of desire, reflection, and the continuous cycle of life.

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