Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"In Bertram's Garden" by Donald Justice delves into the poignant emotions of a young girl named Jane as she grapples with feelings of disgrace and abandonment in a vividly described garden setting. The poem’s rich imagery and subtle narrative create a haunting atmosphere, capturing a moment of personal turmoil and reflection.

Jane's disarray is immediately evident as she looks down at her organdy skirt, perceiving it as a symbol of her disgrace: "Jane looks down at her organdy skirt / As if it somehow were the thing disgraced." This opening line sets the tone for the poem, establishing Jane's internal conflict and the sense of shame she feels. The organdy skirt, once pristine, now lies on the floor, symbolizing her fall from grace and the dirt that has sullied her innocence.

The act of gathering her skirt around her waist and smoothing it out signifies Jane's attempt to regain some semblance of dignity: "And she catches it up about her waist, / Smooths it out along one hip, / And pulls it over the crumpled slip." This moment of self-care highlights her vulnerability and the fragility of her state of mind. Despite her efforts, Jane remains in a state of dishevelment, both physically and emotionally.

Bertram, the bronze boy asleep on the cool, green-shuttered porch, represents a figure of authority and control in Jane's life: "Asleep is Bertram that bronze boy, / Who, having wound her around a spool, / Sends her spinning like a toy." His presence is both distant and omnipotent, dictating Jane's actions and leaving her to navigate her distress alone in the garden. The imagery of being wound around a spool and spun like a toy conveys Jane's loss of agency and the manipulation she endures.

In the solitude of the garden, Jane's sorrow becomes palpable: "Out to the garden, all alone, / To sit and weep on a bench of stone." The garden, typically a place of growth and beauty, is transformed into a scene of desolation and sorrow. The stone bench she sits on further emphasizes the coldness and hardness of her situation, devoid of comfort or solace.

The impending nightfall brings a sense of foreboding and transformation: "Soon the purple dark must bruise / Lily and bleeding-heart and rose." The imagery of the dark bruising the flowers mirrors Jane's emotional bruises and the pain she feels. The mention of "bleeding-heart" is particularly poignant, symbolizing her wounded emotions and the depth of her suffering.

As darkness descends, the little cupid statue in the garden also begins to lose its features: "And the little cupid lose / Eyes and ears and chin and nose." This transformation suggests the loss of innocence and love, as even the symbol of romance and affection becomes disfigured in the gloom. The garden, once a place of beauty, becomes a shadowy reflection of Jane's inner turmoil.

The poem concludes with a somber image of Jane lying down with others, "Naked to the naked moon": "And Jane lie down with others soon, / Naked to the naked moon." This final line evokes a sense of vulnerability and exposure, as Jane is laid bare to the indifferent gaze of the moon. The repetition of "naked" underscores her raw emotional state and the stark reality of her situation.

"In Bertram's Garden" is a powerful exploration of innocence lost and the deep emotional scars that can result from manipulation and abandonment. Through vivid imagery and a poignant narrative, Donald Justice captures the essence of Jane's suffering and the bleakness of her solitude, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.

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