A Contemplation upon Flowers
Beryl Clarke, Contributor

A week has passed since we last discussed 'A Contemplation upon Flowers', so you have had time to read and reread the it. I am sure that you found it worthwhile to spend time on this poem because it is packed with information on topics of great interest.

The speaker in 'A Contemplation Upon Flowers' begins by complimenting the subject: flowers. So great is his admiration, that he uses the word 'gallant', which is both an adjective and a noun to describe them. In this way, he emphasises his appreciation with strength and force. In addition, he remarks that flowers are not conceited, they do not think too highly of themselves. He declares that he wishes that he could be like them on both counts; that is, courageous and not 'stuck-up'! He explains further that when flowers emerge and attract attention (with their beauty), they make no problems.

Important

Rather, they quietly return to the earth, from which they came, after they are seen. There is the suggestion at this point that the flowers do not feel important because they know that the earth is the source of their beauty (embroidered garments) and so the process of growing, blooming, fading, withering and then becoming a part of the earth once again is taken as natural and creates no cause for concern.

The speaker now comes to a point that seems very important to him as he continues to contrast the flowers' attitude, this time to death (with that of humans). For him, the flowers follow life's cyclical pattern cheerfully, without any regret while he - our speaker - yearns to remain youthful, never to grow old, never to die, and not even to contemplate the fact that death exists. And so he next appeals for a lesson. He wants to learn how not to fear death because he realises that he cannot escape from it; he calls it 'my bed of earth'. His desire is to get to the position where he can smile at death, where he can make an agreement with death. Do you see the significance of that statement? In order to do so, you must know the meaning of the word 'truce'. Look it up and you will find that it means a temporary agreement to cease hostilities. This, therefore, tells us that he feels that he is at war with death and is uncomfortable with it. Why do you think I say that?

Anxious

I do so because if he were not, he would not sound so anxious to be like the flowers and would not be talking about a truce. In addition, the poem says "to take truce", suggesting that death wishes to be accepted peacefully and without conflict.

In the last four lines, our speaker brings the flowers, which he respects, face to face with death, which he fears. The influence of the flowers is great, for here he sees them as displaying no fear. They look good; they brighten up the funereal atmosphere and make the place smell fragrant. As Jamaicans, we would say, sweet. The flowers are dying but they do fulfil their purpose, and this is the attitude the speaker wants to achieve. He wants to be able to approach death as if he is approaching a friend, sweetly and with confidence. He desires, too, to use his life "my breath" in such a way that his death will not be sad and mournful.

Take a close look at the poet's style. Consider the rhyming pattern, the run-on lines, the use of the colon, the conversational tone, the couplet with which the poem ends and the fact that there is only one full stop in the whole poem. Please notice, too, how the seasons are used as symbols. Is there any use of personification? Has this lesson assisted in your understanding of this work? I would really like to think it has. By the way, does it surprise you that a bishop wrote this?

Have a safe and successful week. God bless you!

Debbie Smith poses before the 100-day countdown board in her grade-two classroom where she teaches. Students, who go to school every day for the 100 days, get a certificate celebrating their achievement. The board is also used to teach students math skills. - photo by Francine Black

Beryl Clarke teaches at Glenmuir High School.