Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"To Return to the Trees" by Derek Walcott is a contemplative meditation on aging, decline, and the passage of time. Through rich imagery of trees, mountains, and classical allusions, the poem reflects on the poet’s relationship with the natural world and his acceptance of the inevitable aging process. Walcott draws on both personal and literary history to explore themes of strength, endurance, and the quiet dignity of growing older.

The poem begins with the invocation of "Senex, an oak," referring to the Latin word "senex", meaning "old man" or "elder." The oak, a symbol of strength and longevity, represents the process of aging gracefully. Walcott contrasts the oak with the "old sea-almond," which stands "unwincing in spray." The sea-almond tree, weathered and resilient against the elements, becomes a metaphor for the poet himself as he contemplates his own aging. The "geriabic grove" on the "sea-road to Cumana" suggests a place where old age and nature converge, a location associated with reflection and the end of life's journey.

Walcott expresses a desire "to return to the trees" and "to decline like this tree," identifying with the natural cycle of life and death. The idea of returning to the trees evokes a sense of grounding and unity with nature, as well as a resignation to the inevitable process of aging. The reference to "the burly oak / of Boanerges Ben Jonson" links the poet’s reflections to the English playwright and poet Ben Jonson, whose name is associated with literary strength and vigor. The mention of Jonson suggests a lineage of poets who have faced the challenges of aging, drawing a parallel between physical and creative endurance.

However, the poet questions whether he is "lying / like this felled almond" when he claims to look forward to old age. The metaphor of the "felled almond" suggests vulnerability and finality, as the tree lies on the ground, no longer standing tall. The poet’s uncertainty about whether he truly embraces old age reflects the tension between acceptance and fear of decline. He imagines himself as a "gnarled poet / bearded with the whirlwind," whose "metres like thunder" evoke a sense of power and authority in old age, yet this idealized vision of aging is tempered by the reality of decline.

Walcott's reflections expand beyond the sea and the trees to include the "changes on Mome Coco Mountain." The poet observes the shifting landscape from "flagrant sunrise / to its ashen end," indicating a passage from youth to old age. The mountain, with its daily transformations, becomes a symbol of constancy and change, mirroring the poet's own journey through life. The recurring image of "grey" in the poem takes on new significance as the poet explores its various connotations. Initially associated with neutrality or decline, grey evolves into a "crystal haze" or a "dull diamond," suggesting that old age is not merely a period of decline but a time of clarity and strength.

Walcott describes grey as "the heart at peace" and "tougher than the warrior," suggesting that aging brings with it a sense of tranquility and resilience that surpasses the physical strength of youth. The image of the pillars of the temple resting on Samson’s palms evokes the biblical story of Samson, whose final act of strength comes at the end of his life. The idea of balance and the "toil that is balance" underscores the labor involved in maintaining equilibrium in life, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual.

The poem’s allusion to Seneca, the Roman philosopher, introduces another layer of reflection on aging and wisdom. Walcott refers to Seneca as a "fabled bore" and describes his "gnarled, laborious Latin" as something he can read only in fragments, like "broken bark." The difficulty of Seneca’s language mirrors the complexity of aging and the challenge of finding meaning in the later stages of life. The heroes in Seneca’s works, "tempered by whirlwinds," are figures who have endured hardship and emerged with a deeper understanding of life, much like the poet himself.

The poem concludes with the image of the "obdurate almond / going under the sand / with this language, slowly, / by sand grains, by centuries." This image of gradual burial suggests that the poet, like the almond tree, will eventually be subsumed by time, but the process is slow and measured. The language, too, will endure, even as it is eroded over time.

In "To Return to the Trees," Derek Walcott reflects on the inevitability of aging and the desire for acceptance and peace in the face of decline. Through the use of rich natural imagery, literary allusions, and philosophical contemplation, Walcott explores the balance between strength and vulnerability, the passage of time, and the enduring power of language. The poem ultimately conveys a sense of quiet dignity in the face of aging, suggesting that while decline is inevitable, it is also part of a natural, cyclical process.

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