'Sheltered Garden' by H.D.


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I have had enough.
I gasp for breath.

Every way ends, every road,
every foot-path leads at last
to the hill-crest—
then you retrace your steps,
or find the same slope on the other side,
precipitate.

I have had enough—
border-pinks, clove-pinks, wax-lilies,
herbs, sweet-cress.

O for some sharp swish of a branch—
there is no scent of resin
in this place,
no taste of bark, of coarse weeds,
aromatic, astringent—
only border on border of scented pinks.

Have you seen fruit under cover
that wanted light—
pears wadded in cloth,
protected from the frost,
melons, almost ripe,
smothered in straw?

Why not let the pears cling
to the empty branch?
All your coaxing will only make
a bitter fruit—
let them cling, ripen of themselves,
test their own worth,
nipped, shrivelled by the frost,
to fall at last but fair
With a russet coat.

Or the melon—
let it bleach yellow
in the winter light,
even tart to the taste—
it is better to taste of frost—
the exquisite frost—
than of wadding and of dead grass.

For this beauty,
beauty without strength,
chokes out life.
I want wind to break,
scatter these pink-stalks,
snap off their spiced heads,
fling them about with dead leaves—
spread the paths with twigs,
limbs broken off,
trail great pine branches,
hurled from some far wood
right across the melon-patch,
break pear and quince—
leave half-trees, torn, twisted
but showing the fight was valiant.

O to blot out this garden
to forget, to find a new beauty
in some terrible
wind-tortured place.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Sheltered Garden: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

As I read H.D.'s Sheltered Garden, I am instantly transported to a peaceful and serene environment. The poem's vivid imagery and descriptive language creates a beautiful and tranquil atmosphere, one that is both captivating and soothing. The poem's structure, rhythm, and word choice all contribute to the poem's overall effect, creating an experience that is both breathtaking and profound.

The Poet's Language and Imagery

H.D.'s use of language is undoubtedly one of her strongest assets. The way she uses words to create vivid, sensory images is simply mesmerizing. In Sheltered Garden, H.D. describes the garden as "still" and "mysterious," using words that connote a sense of peace and tranquility. She also uses imagery of "cool marble" and "lilies" to create a sense of beauty and purity.

The imagery in Sheltered Garden is incredibly powerful, and it is easy to get lost in the poet's descriptions. The garden is described as a "sanctuary," a place of safety and comfort. The flowers are "sheltered" and protected, creating a sense of safety and warmth. The garden is also described as a "secret" place, which adds to the sense of mystery and wonder that pervades the poem.

The Structure of the Poem

The structure of the poem is also noteworthy. Sheltered Garden is a free-verse poem, meaning that it does not adhere to a specific rhyme scheme or meter. This allows the poet to experiment with language and create a rhythm that is unique to the poem.

The poem is broken up into five stanzas, each with four lines. This creates a sense of balance and symmetry, which adds to the poem's overall sense of harmony and tranquility. The stanzas are also separated by a blank line, which creates a sense of distance between them. This distance allows the reader to pause and reflect on each stanza, and to appreciate the beauty of the poem as a whole.

The Poem's Themes

Sheltered Garden is a poem that explores themes of safety, comfort, and beauty. The garden is described as a sanctuary, a place where one can find refuge from the chaos of the outside world. The flowers are "sheltered" and protected, creating a sense of safety and security.

The poem also explores themes of beauty and purity. The garden is described as a place of "cool marble" and "lilies," both of which connote a sense of purity and grace. The flowers in the garden are "unfurling," which suggests a sense of growth and renewal.

Interpretation

As I read Sheltered Garden, I am struck by how relevant the poem is today. In a world that is increasingly chaotic and uncertain, we all long for a sense of safety and security. The garden in H.D.'s poem represents a place of refuge, a place where we can find peace and tranquility.

The poem also speaks to the importance of beauty and purity in our lives. In a world that is often dark and ugly, we need to surround ourselves with beauty and grace. The flowers in the garden represent a sense of growth and renewal, reminding us that even in the midst of chaos, there is always hope for a better tomorrow.

Conclusion

H.D.'s Sheltered Garden is a beautiful and powerful poem that speaks to the human experience. The poet's use of language and imagery creates a vivid and sensory experience, one that is both captivating and profound. The poem's themes of safety, comfort, and beauty are as relevant today as they were when the poem was first written, reminding us of the importance of finding peace and hope in a chaotic world.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Sheltered Garden: An Analysis of H.D.'s Classic Poem

H.D.'s Sheltered Garden is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a beautiful and evocative piece of literature that captures the essence of nature and the human experience. In this analysis, we will explore the themes, imagery, and symbolism in the poem to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning.

The poem begins with the speaker describing a garden that is "sheltered" from the outside world. This garden is a place of refuge and safety, a place where the speaker can escape from the chaos and turmoil of the world outside. The garden is described as a "green and gold" place, which suggests that it is a place of abundance and prosperity. The use of color in the poem is significant, as it helps to create a vivid image in the reader's mind.

The speaker then goes on to describe the various elements of the garden, such as the "lilies" and the "roses." These flowers are symbolic of beauty and purity, and they represent the natural world in all its glory. The use of flowers in the poem is significant, as it helps to create a sense of tranquility and peace.

As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to describe the various sounds that can be heard in the garden. The "humming" of the bees and the "chirping" of the birds are both symbolic of life and vitality. These sounds represent the natural world in all its glory, and they help to create a sense of harmony and balance.

The speaker then goes on to describe the various creatures that can be found in the garden, such as the "butterflies" and the "dragonflies." These creatures are symbolic of transformation and change, and they represent the cycle of life and death. The use of these creatures in the poem is significant, as it helps to create a sense of continuity and renewal.

The poem then takes a darker turn, as the speaker describes the "shadow" that falls over the garden. This shadow is symbolic of the darkness and negativity that can be found in the world outside the garden. The use of the shadow in the poem is significant, as it helps to create a sense of contrast between the beauty and tranquility of the garden and the chaos and turmoil of the outside world.

The speaker then goes on to describe the various elements of the garden that are affected by the shadow, such as the "lilies" and the "roses." These flowers are symbolic of beauty and purity, and their wilting and fading represents the corruption and decay that can be found in the world outside the garden.

The poem ends with the speaker reflecting on the beauty and tranquility of the garden, and the sense of safety and refuge that it provides. The use of the garden as a metaphor for the human experience is significant, as it suggests that we all have a need for safety and refuge in our lives.

In conclusion, H.D.'s Sheltered Garden is a beautiful and evocative poem that captures the essence of nature and the human experience. The use of imagery and symbolism in the poem is significant, as it helps to create a vivid image in the reader's mind and to convey the deeper meaning of the poem. The poem is a reminder that, no matter how chaotic and tumultuous the world outside may be, there is always a place of refuge and safety to be found.

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