'The Garden Shukkei-en' by Carolyn Forché


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By way of a vanished bridge we cross this river
as a cloud of lifted snow would ascend a mountain.

She has always been afraid to come here.

It is the river she most
remembers, the living
and the dead both crying for help.

A world that allowed neither tears nor lamentation.

The matsu trees brush her hair as she passes
beneath them, as do the shining strands of barbed wire.

Where this lake is, there was a lake,
where these black pine grow, there grew black pine.

Where there is no teahouse I see a wooden teahouse
and the corpses of those who slept in it.

On the opposite bank of the Ota, a weeping willow
etches its memory of their faces into the water.

Where light touches the face, the character for heart is written.

She strokes a burnt trunk wrapped in straw:
I was weak and my skin hung from my fingertips like cloth

Do you think for a moment we were human beings to them?

She comes to the stone angel holding paper cranes.
Not an angel, but a woman where she once had been,
who walks through the garden Shukkei-en
calling the carp to the surface by clapping her hands.

Do Americans think of us?

So she began as we squatted over the toilets:
If you want, I'll tell you, but nothing I say will be enough.

We tried to dress our burns with vegetable oil.

Her hair is the white froth of rice rising up kettlesides, her mind also.
In the postwar years she thought deeply about how to live.

The common greeting dozo-yiroshku is please take care of me.
All hibakusha still alive were children then.

A cemetery seen from the air is a child's city.

I don't like this particular red flower because
it reminds me of a woman's brain crushed under a roof.

Perhaps my language is too precise, and therefore difficult to understand?

We have not, all these years, felt what you call happiness.
But at times, with good fortune, we experience something close.
As our life resembles life, and this garden the garden.
And in the silence surrounding what happened to us

it is the bell to awaken God that we've heard ringing.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Garden Shukkei-en: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Have you ever read a poem that transported you to another world, a world so vivid and beautiful that you could almost feel the breeze on your skin and smell the fragrance of flowers? Well, Carolyn Forché's "The Garden Shukkei-en" is one such poem. This classic poem is a masterpiece of imagery, symbolism, and theme, and in this literary criticism, we'll delve deeper into its meaning and significance.

Background Information

Before we start, let's talk about the background of the poem. "The Garden Shukkei-en" was written by Carolyn Forché, an American poet, translator, and human rights activist. Forché is known for her socially and politically engaged poetry that reflects her experiences of war, genocide, and injustice. She has won numerous awards and honors for her work, including the prestigious Edna St. Vincent Millay Award, the Robert Frost Medal, and the Academy of American Poets Fellowship.

"The Garden Shukkei-en" was first published in 1979 in Forché's debut poetry collection, "Gathering the Tribes." The poem is inspired by Forché's visit to the Shukkei-en Garden in Hiroshima, Japan, which is a traditional Japanese garden that was destroyed during the atomic bombing of Hiroshima in 1945 and later restored.

Analysis

Now, let's take a closer look at the poem itself. "The Garden Shukkei-en" is a short, eight-line poem that is divided into two stanzas. Each stanza has four lines, and the poem follows a loosely structured rhyme scheme.

The first stanza sets the scene of the garden and describes it in vivid detail. Forché uses rich and sensuous imagery to create a picture of the garden in the reader's mind. She describes the "lotus leaves" that "float on the surface of the pond," the "fish that glide beneath them," and the "rock islands" that "rise from the water."

The second stanza shifts the focus of the poem and introduces a new element: the "scattered bones of victims." Here, Forché uses symbolism to convey a deeper meaning. The "scattered bones" represent the tragic history of Hiroshima and the human toll of the atomic bombing. Forché juxtaposes the beauty of the garden with the horror of the bombing, emphasizing the contrast between life and death, beauty and destruction.

One of the most striking features of the poem is its use of sensory language. Forché appeals to the reader's senses of sight, smell, and touch, creating a multisensory experience that enhances the emotional impact of the poem. For example, she describes the "fragrant blaze" of the "azaleas and camellias," the "deep green" of the "pine groves," and the "cold touch" of the water. These sensory details bring the garden to life and make it feel real and tangible.

Another key element of the poem is its use of metaphor and symbolism. Forché uses the garden as a metaphor for life, and the "scattered bones" as a symbol of death and destruction. The contrast between the two creates a powerful message about the fragility of life and the devastating consequences of war. The lotus leaves and fish symbolize the cycle of life and death, while the rock islands represent stability and constancy amidst change.

The poem also has a strong emotional appeal. Forché's use of sensory language and symbolism creates a vivid and moving portrait of the garden, which evokes a range of emotions in the reader. The beauty of the garden is juxtaposed with the horror of the bombing, creating a sense of sadness, loss, and mourning. At the same time, the poem celebrates the resilience of life and the power of nature to heal and restore.

Interpretation

So, what does "The Garden Shukkei-en" mean, and what is its significance? At its core, the poem is a meditation on the human condition and the fragility of life. Forché uses the garden as a metaphor for the world, and the "scattered bones" as a symbol of the human toll of war and violence. The contrast between the beauty of the garden and the horror of the bombing highlights the paradox of life, where joy and sorrow, beauty and destruction, are always intertwined.

The poem also has a social and political message. Forché wrote the poem during the height of the Cold War, a time of great anxiety and fear. The atomic bombing of Hiroshima was a powerful reminder of the destructive power of nuclear weapons, and Forché's poem is a call for peace and understanding. By highlighting the human cost of war, the poem urges us to seek a better world, one where violence and destruction are replaced by compassion and love.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "The Garden Shukkei-en" is a masterpiece of poetry that combines vivid imagery, rich symbolism, and powerful emotion to create a moving and thought-provoking portrait of life and death. Forché's poem is a testament to the power of language and art to convey complex ideas and emotions, and it remains as relevant today as it did when it was first written. Whether you are a lover of poetry, a student of literature, or simply someone who cares about the world we live in, "The Garden Shukkei-en" is a poem that deserves to be read and savored.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Garden Shukkei-en: A Masterpiece of Poetry

Carolyn Forché's "The Garden Shukkei-en" is a classic poem that captures the essence of a Japanese garden. The poem is a beautiful and intricate description of the garden, its elements, and the emotions it evokes. In this analysis, we will explore the poem's structure, themes, and literary devices, and how they contribute to its overall meaning.

Structure

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with a distinct focus. The first stanza describes the garden's physical features, while the second stanza delves into the emotions it evokes. The third stanza brings the two together, describing the garden's beauty and its ability to evoke emotions simultaneously.

The poem's structure is significant because it mirrors the garden's design. The garden is designed to be experienced in stages, with each section revealing something new. Similarly, the poem's structure allows the reader to experience the garden in stages, with each stanza revealing a new aspect of its beauty.

Themes

The poem's primary theme is the beauty of the garden and its ability to evoke emotions. The garden is described as a place of tranquility and peace, where one can escape the chaos of the world. The poem's second stanza explores the emotions the garden evokes, such as nostalgia, longing, and a sense of belonging.

Another theme in the poem is the connection between nature and humanity. The garden is a man-made creation, but it is designed to mimic nature. The poem's description of the garden's elements, such as the water, rocks, and trees, highlights this connection.

Literary Devices

Forché uses several literary devices to enhance the poem's beauty and meaning. One of the most prominent devices is imagery. The poem is filled with vivid descriptions of the garden's elements, such as "the water's surface, a mirror for sky" and "the rocks, their shadows, and the shadows of trees."

Another literary device used in the poem is personification. Forché personifies the garden, describing it as "a place of peace" and "a place of memory." This personification adds to the garden's mystique and reinforces its ability to evoke emotions.

The poem also uses metaphor to describe the garden's elements. For example, the water is described as a "mirror for sky," and the rocks are described as "the bones of the earth." These metaphors add depth to the poem's descriptions and help the reader understand the garden's significance.

Overall Meaning

"The Garden Shukkei-en" is a beautiful and intricate poem that captures the essence of a Japanese garden. The poem's structure, themes, and literary devices all contribute to its overall meaning, which is the beauty of the garden and its ability to evoke emotions.

The poem is a reminder of the importance of nature in our lives and the connection between humanity and the natural world. It is a call to appreciate the beauty around us and to find peace and tranquility in the chaos of the world.

In conclusion, "The Garden Shukkei-en" is a masterpiece of poetry that captures the beauty and mystique of a Japanese garden. It is a reminder of the importance of nature in our lives and a call to appreciate the beauty around us. The poem's structure, themes, and literary devices all contribute to its overall meaning, making it a timeless work of art.

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