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Fig. 1 An Image of a Hawthorn Tree
The poem "The Hawthorn Tree" by Louise Glück is derived from her book The Wild Iris, that was written in 1992. This poem touches on the concepts of love, lonliness, declining, mortality, acceptance, grief, and the human existence, as well as tying in the aspect of nature into all of these themes.
The “Hawthorn Tree” by Louis Glück depicts a passive, yet tragic scene involving two people in a garden. The speaker of the poem is seemingly watching and observing the other character, in a rather passive, yet solemn and accepting way. The speaker sorrowfully accepts the other character’s journey, fate, and end. The speaker starts off by explaining that the two are “side by side,” yet not “hand in hand.” This suggests the concept of being metaphorically, and not physically close.
This further offers the possibility that something has happened, and also that the two are not on good terms. This line could also recommend the idea of mutual love, connection, and dependability. With this, due to certain circumstances, the inability to be physically, or metaphorically joined.
The speaker also depicts that they “watch [the other] walking in the summer garden,” going along with the theme of being passive, distant, and detached. They then go on to say that “things that can't move learn to see,” (alluding to herself), which too follows the theme of passiveness, and with this, the adaptability and understanding that one can acquire.
This notion of acceptance comes into play as the speaker explains that they “do not need to chase [the other] through the garden,” because they “leave signs of feeling everywhere.” This last line introduces the theme of emotion, passion, and effectiveness. This agrees with the common theme that humans leave a trace of destruction wherever they go. However, in this case, the speaker strategically chooses to use the word “feeling” which offers a more beautiful, deep, relatable, and passionate notion. Instead of leaving a mark that is derived from selfishness, malice, ignorance, or carelessness, this “trace" is derived from thought, feeling, emotion, and experience. All of which are purely human aspects of life.
Following this theme, the speaker describes the path that the other character leaves as “flowers scattered on the dirt path.” This implies a negative connotation, overall depicting a sence and scene of pain, feeling, emotion, hurt, anger, and so on. It exhibits the terrible destruction of something so beautiful, pure, and helpless.
The speaker discloses that the other character is “deep in a poisonous field,” which could imply a dark place metaphorically, one that regards mental and emotional health and well-being. The speaker explains that the reason for the other’s experience and journey is from “human passion or rage.” They explain that this is why the other had “dropped all [they] had gathered,” referring to all that they had done and accomplished in life. This also parallels to the concept of letting everything go, as well giving up and not caring anymore.
The Hawthorn Tree
Side by side, not
hand in hand: I watch you
walking in the summer garden—things
that can't move
learn to see; I do not need
to chase you through
the garden; human beings leave
signs of feeling
everywhere, flowers
scattered on the dirt path, all
white and gold, some
lifted a little by
the evening wind; I do not need
to follow where you are now,
deep in the poisonous field, to know
the cause of your flight, human
passion or rage: for what else
would you let drop
all you have gathered?
Fig. 2 An Image of a Hawthorn Tree
The speaker accepts the fate of the other person in a solemn and despaired way. Even though a tragedy, the speaker is aware and understanding, and because of this, they do “not need to follow” or “chase.” The speaker sees that the other person’s state is due to “human passion or rage,” and therefore it is natural, real, and difficult to change.
The shift of setting in this poem is notable, as it starts off in a lively garden, then moves towards beautiful flowers being torn from the ground, then ending in a poisonous, dark field. This poem depicts a scene, through a garden, yet symbolizes one through life. With this dark, depressing, and hopeless journey and outcome of an indivdual is also the presence of a loved one who can not do anything to help, and instead solely understand and watch.
Works Cited
Glück, Louise, "The Hawthorne" 1992. Voetica, https://voetica.com/poem/6945. Accessed 14 May 2024
Cover Image: https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/2020/gluck/facts/
Figure 1: https://www.gardendesign.com/trees/hawthorn.html
Figure 2: https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rte.ie%2Fbrainstorm%2F2023%2F0508%2F1136776-hawthorn-tree-ireland-folklore%2F&psig=AOvVaw1cikCPNJ9jeRdE1WULbEf8&ust=1715306143626000&source=images&cd=vfe&opi=89978449&ved=0CBIQjRxqFwoTCPiCida7_4UDFQAAAAAdAAAAABAE
Contributor: Isabella Cohen
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