wider, more subtle range of suggestion.” (Stephen Minot, Three Genres)
Discussion: To what extent are the following poems “simple”? Is one more “sophisticated” than the other? If so, what elements contribute to its increased depth and complexity? Is there a specific moment in each when the poem begins to falter as poem? Remember, “simple” and “sophisticated” in this context merely describe; they do not judge.
Joyce Kilmer, TREES
I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is pressed
Against the earth’s sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks to God all day
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
Anonymous greeting-card verses:
The real Christmas feeling
That warm friendly glow
Comes from greeting the people
We’re happy to know.
May the beautiful
blessings of Christmas
With its message
of hope and cheer
Be for you a joyous reminder
That our Savior
is with you all year.
For further discussion:
Ezra Pound, “In a Station of the Metro”
EXERCISE: Compare the poems in the following sets in terms of simplicity or sophistication. In each set, one of the poems will be blunter, more direct; one will makes its point less directly, through image, metaphor, and structure:
SET I:
A POISON TREE
I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.
And I watered it in fears,
Night and morning with my tears;
And I sunnéd it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.
And it grew both day and night
Till it bore an apple bright;
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine,
And into my garden stole
When the night had veiled the pole:
In the morning glad I see
My foe stretched out beneath the tree.
TEACH ME TO LIVE
Teach me to live! ‘tis easier far to die;
Gently and silently to pass away,
On earth’s long night to close the heavy eye,
And waken in the realms of glorious day.
Teach me that harder lesson, how to live,
To serve Thee in the darkest paths of life;
Arm me for conflict now; fresh vigor give,
And make me more than conqueror in the strife.
Teach me to live! my daily cross to bear,
Nor murmur though I bend beneath its load.
Only be with me; let me feel Thee near;
Thy smile sheds gladness on the darkest road.
Teach me to live, and find my life in Thee;
Looking from earth and earthly things away;
Let me not falter, but untiringly
Press on, and gain new strength and power each day.
Teach me to live! with kindly words for all;
Wearing no cold, repulsive brow of gloom;
Waiting with cheerful patience, till Thy call
Summon my spirit to her heavenly home.
SET II:
GOD’S PLANS
Sometime, when all life’s lessons have been learned,
And sun and stars forever more have set,
The things which our weak judgment here have spurned,
The things o’er which we grieved with lashes wet,
Will flash before us out of life’s dark night,
As stars shine most in deeper tints of blue:
And we shall see how all God’s plans were right,
And how what seemed reproof was love most true.
And we shall see, while we frown and sigh,
God’s plans go on as best for you and me;
How, when called, he heeded not our cry,
Because his wisdom to the end could see.
And e’en as prudent parents disallow
Too much of sweet to craving boyhood,
So God, perhaps, is keeping from us now
Life’s sweetest things because it seemeth good.
And if, sometimes, commingling with life’s wine,
We find the wormwood and rebel and sink,
Be
