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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
Part 1 of the poem immerses the reader in the dense, mysterious landscape of a cypress swamp, where the contrast between the dark cypress trees and the bright yellow lilies creates a striking image of beauty and resilience. The lilies, blooming "amber in landscape hazed dull green," serve as a symbol of life's persistence amidst the swamp's "darkly cool, yet dangerous" environment. Baker's detailed description of the cypress trees, with their "thickened at the base" trunks and "gauze-white" canopy of leaves, evokes a sense of awe and reverence for the natural world's intricate design and balance. The reference to the cypress knees as "the small, torn tissues of a body turned stone by cold neglect" and their shining "in a black, clean foot of water" further deepens the poem's exploration of themes related to life, death, and the transformative power of nature. The desire to "hold" the wild lilies burning in the swamp reflects a human longing to connect with and preserve moments of beauty in the face of impermanence. Part 2 shifts the setting to a funeral, where the solemnity of mourning is juxtaposed with the natural imagery introduced in the first part of the poem. The "High, lighted altar" and the "pews of fine-planed board" mirror the reverence and awe inspired by the cypress swamp, while the "burnished, closed casket" and the "bright brass fittings" echo the vividness of the lilies and the roughness of the cypress knees. The act of mourning, with mourners "filing past" and the preacher leading a song, is portrayed as a communal attempt to find solace and meaning in the face of loss. The poem concludes with the striking image of a "redwing blackbird flashing past a clear pane" and a "fist of lilies in a vase," suggesting that true beauty and moments of transcendence can be found in the natural world and in human expressions of grief and remembrance. The "one gorgeous flame" of the lilies serves as a metaphor for the enduring spirit of life and the capacity for beauty to emerge from sorrow. "Yellow Lilies and Cypress Swamp" is a beautifully crafted meditation on the interplay between the natural and the human, the living and the dead. Through its rich imagery and thoughtful juxtapositions, David Baker invites readers to reflect on the ways in which beauty and meaning can be found in the most solemn and mysterious aspects of existence.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...CACHE LA POUDRE by JAMES GALVIN HER EYES TWIN POOLS by JAMES WELDON JOHNSON RECESSIONAL by EDGAR LEE MASTERS DEATH AND DOCTOR HORNBOOK; A TRUE STORY by ROBERT BURNS THE PILLAR OF FAME by ROBERT HERRICK TO MY MOTHER SLEEPING by MARY RUSSELL MITFORD |
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