I need help analyzing this poem by Al Purdy called "trees at the arctic circle"
Where he makes an allusion to victorian married couple- I don't understand that part.
Also is poem about intercultural? Geography? How this region in the north wasn't acknowledged, and neglected?
(Salix Cordifolia---Ground Willow)
They are 18 inches long
or even less
crawling under rocks
groveling among the lichens
bending and curling to escape
making themselves small
finding new ways to hide
Coward trees
I am angry to see them
like this
not proud of what they are
bowing to weather instead
careful of themselves
worried about the sky
afraid of exposing their limbs
like a Victorian married couple
I call to mind great Douglas firs
I see tall maples waving green
and oaks like gods in autumn gold
the whole horizon jungle dark
and I crouched under that continual night
But these
even the dwarf shrubs of Ontario
mock them
Coward trees
And yet---and yet---
their seed pods glow
like delicate gray earrings
their leaves are veined and intricate
like tiny parkas
They have about three months
to make sure the species does not die
and that's how they spend their time
unbothered by any human opinion
just digging in here and now
sending their roots down down down
And you know it occurs to me
about 2 feet under
those roots must touch permafrost
ice that remains ice forever
and they use it for their nourishment
they use death to remain alive
I see that I've been carried away
in my scorn of the dwarf trees
most foolish in my judgments
To take away the dignity
of any living thing
even tho it cannot understand
the scornful words
is to make life itself trivial
and yourself the Pontifex Maximus
of nullity
I have been stupid in a poem
I will not alter the poem
but let the stupidity remain permanent
as the trees are
in a poem
the dwarf trees of Baffin Island
Pangnirtung
A Victorian married couple is assumed to be shy and bashful and ashamed of showing their limbs (legs) even to each other. The tree's limbs are similar, according to the poet. The trees are ashamed of showing their bare legs (limbs).
I don't see this poem as intercultural. It does seem to be about geography -- and the lack of people and understanding of nature in this remote part of the world.
Thank you very much Ms. Sue :)
You're very welcome, Mohammad.
The last line has spelling error ity ?
In analyzing the poem "Trees at the Arctic Circle" by Al Purdy, it's important to understand the specific references and themes the poet is using.
First, let's address the allusion to the Victorian married couple. In the line, "like a Victorian married couple," Purdy is using this comparison to convey the image of the trees being submissive, reserved, and cautious. Victorian couples were often seen as proper, refined, and restrained in their behavior, maintaining a certain decorum in public. By likening the trees to a Victorian married couple, Purdy suggests that the trees are bending and bowing under the influence of external forces, being careful not to expose themselves to the harsh Arctic conditions. This comparison highlights the vulnerability and resilience of the trees in the face of their environment.
As for the themes of interculturalism and neglect, it's important to consider the overall context of the poem. While the poem doesn't explicitly focus on intercultural or geographical themes, it does touch upon the idea of neglected or overlooked regions. The mention of Baffin Island and the dwarf trees found there suggests a remote and disregarded area. The poet's initial anger towards the "coward trees" and his judgment of them as lesser than other trees from different regions reveal a bias and a lack of understanding. However, the poem takes a turn when the poet realizes the value and strength of these trees. He acknowledges their ability to adapt, their beauty in their seed pods and leaves, and their resilience in extracting nourishment from the permafrost beneath them. This realization brings about a sense of humility and appreciation for all forms of life, even those that may be deemed ordinary or insignificant.
To understand a poem deeper, it's helpful to consider its structure, language, and symbolism. In this poem, the repetitive use of the term "coward trees" creates an impactful tone, expressing the poet's initial frustration and later his recognition of his own misguided judgment. The imagery of the trees' seed pods and leaves being compared to jewelry and parkas respectively adds visual beauty and intricacy to the perceived mundane. Furthermore, the mention of permafrost and the trees' ability to use death for survival symbolizes the resilience and resourcefulness of nature.
To summarize, the poem "Trees at the Arctic Circle" by Al Purdy contrasts the poet's initial scorn towards the dwarf trees with his eventual realization of their value and strength. Through the use of allusions, imagery, and symbolism, the poem explores themes of vulnerability, resilience, and the importance of appreciating all forms of life.