Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Book of Days 24" by Martha Collins delves into the nature of waiting and the perception of time, using the metaphor of a tree to explore themes of growth, memory, and the hidden aspects of existence. Through this contemplation, Collins invites readers to consider the ways in which we understand and relate to the passage of time, interweaving the tangible and the abstract to reveal the complexity of human experience.

The poem opens with the statement, "Waiting, one feels time / the way one speaks of a tree," immediately establishing a connection between the act of waiting—a state often marked by stillness and anticipation—and the concept of a tree, which embodies growth, change, and the passage of time. This comparison suggests that time, like a tree, is something that can be observed and felt, yet it encompasses much more than what is immediately visible or tangible.

Collins contrasts the specific, "as here in this yard, / this beech," with the general, "meaning not, as here in this yard," to highlight the difference between the individual experience of a particular tree and the broader concept of "tree" as an idea or symbol. The "dark marks of lovers / still on the skin, the ovals where limbs / were cut --" evoke the tree's history and the personal stories it bears, underscoring the notion that both time and trees are repositories of memory and markers of change.

The poem then shifts to explore the concept of loss and the ways in which it is obscured by the act of counting or measuring time and growth: "meaning rather the loss we hide / by counting." This insight points to the human tendency to quantify and categorize experiences, perhaps as a means of making sense of them, while often overlooking the underlying emotions and transformations that occur beneath the surface.

Collins expands the metaphor to include "the way the tree grows, / or the way we speak of a mountain," introducing the image of a mountain to further complicate the perception of time and existence. The mention of "forgetting the roots, the other side --" serves as a reminder of the unseen or unacknowledged aspects of life, the foundational and hidden elements that support and shape the visible.

The references to a "family tree" and a tree "as dreamed" further explore the symbolic dimensions of trees, connecting them to heritage, aspiration, and the imagined ideal. These layers of meaning emphasize the multifaceted nature of time and growth, suggesting that they encompass both the literal and the metaphorical, the real and the envisioned.

The closing imagery of "Time like a mountain, an island / on land, the tree, / a ripened fruit as large / as the hand that holds the yellow half, / or the other hand, that scoops / the fat black seeds" brings together the various threads of the poem, presenting time as something that can be both vast and intimate, encompassing and specific. The act of holding and scooping the fruit serves as a final metaphor for the human engagement with time—something to be grasped, explored, and ultimately, understood in both its grandeur and its detail.

"Book of Days 24" is a poetic meditation on the complexity of waiting, time, and existence, inviting readers to reflect on the ways in which we perceive and experience the unfolding of life. Through its rich imagery and thoughtful exploration of metaphor, Collins offers a nuanced perspective on the layers of meaning that underpin our understanding of the temporal world.

POEM TEXT: https://capa.conncoll.edu/collins.space.htm#DAYS

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