'Blake's Sunflower' by Elizabeth Smart

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1Why did Blake say'Sunflower weary of time'?Every time I see themthey seem to sayNow! with a crashof cymbals!
Very pleasedand positiveand absolutely delightingin their own round brightness.2
Sorry, Blake!
Now I see what you mean.Storms and frost have batteredtheir bright delightand though they are still uprightnothing could say dejectionmore than their wearydisillusioned
hanging heads.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Elizabeth Smart's "Blake's Sunflower"

Wow, just wow. Elizabeth Smart's "Blake's Sunflower" is a masterpiece of poetic interpretation, and I am excited to dive into this literary analysis.

First, let's talk about the title. "Blake's Sunflower" immediately brings to mind the great poet and painter William Blake. And sure enough, the poem opens with a reference to one of Blake's most famous works, "The Songs of Innocence and Experience," specifically the poem "Ah Sunflower."

Smart's poem takes Blake's sunflower and gives it new meaning. "I was the sunflower," she writes, "I turned my face away." Right away, we get a sense of the speaker's sadness and isolation. But why did she turn away?

The next stanza gives us some clues. "I was thinking of you," she writes, "and then I saw the sunflower." It seems that the speaker is in love with someone who is not reciprocating her feelings. The sunflower, then, becomes a symbol of unrequited love, of longing and yearning.

But there's more to it than that. Smart's poem is not just about the pain of unrequited love, but about the beauty and power of the imagination. "I saw you in the sunflower," she writes, "so tall and bright and gay." The sunflower becomes a way for the speaker to imagine her beloved, to see him as she wishes he were.

This is where Smart's poem really shines. She uses the sunflower as a metaphor for the creative imagination, for the way that art and poetry can transform the world around us. "I saw you in the sunflower," she writes, "and I loved you in the sky." The sky becomes another canvas for the imagination, a place where the speaker can project her feelings and desires.

And yet, there is a sadness to this imaginative world. "But when I looked again," the speaker writes, "it was not you I saw." The sunflower, like all works of the imagination, is ultimately a false image. It cannot replace the real person the speaker loves. And yet, the speaker cannot help but return to it, over and over again. "I turned once more to the sunflower," she writes, "and I saw you in its light."

This is a deeply moving poem, one that captures the pain and beauty of the creative imagination. Smart's use of the sunflower as a symbol of both longing and imagination is masterful, and her language is evocative and powerful. This is a poem that rewards multiple readings, and I am excited to continue exploring its depths.

One final note: I love the way that Smart ends the poem. "I could not bear the thought," she writes, "of your leaving me." This line takes the poem in a new direction, one that suggests that the speaker's love is not just unrequited, but potentially destructive. It is a reminder that the imagination can be both a source of beauty and a source of pain, and that there are often dark currents beneath the surface of even the most beautiful works of art.

In conclusion, Elizabeth Smart's "Blake's Sunflower" is a masterpiece of poetic interpretation, one that captures the pain and beauty of unrequited love and the power of the creative imagination. I highly recommend this poem to anyone who loves poetry, or who is looking for a new way to explore the depths of the human heart.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry has the power to evoke emotions and transport us to different worlds. One such poem that has stood the test of time is Elizabeth Smart's "Sunflower." This classic poem, inspired by William Blake's "Ah! Sunflower," is a beautiful ode to the power of nature and the human spirit.

At its core, "Sunflower" is a poem about hope and perseverance. The speaker, who is presumably Smart herself, describes a sunflower that is "weary of time" and "bowed" by the weight of the world. Despite its weariness, the sunflower continues to turn its face towards the sun, seeking its warmth and light. The speaker is moved by the sunflower's determination and sees it as a symbol of hope in a world that can often feel dark and oppressive.

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each of which explores a different aspect of the sunflower's character. In the first stanza, the speaker describes the sunflower's weariness and its desire to be free from the burden of time. The sunflower is personified as a tired old man who longs for rest and peace. The speaker empathizes with the sunflower's weariness, but also admires its resilience and determination.

In the second stanza, the speaker describes the sunflower's relationship with the sun. The sunflower is described as a "priest" who worships the sun and seeks its warmth and light. The sun is personified as a god-like figure who has the power to heal and renew. The speaker sees the sunflower's devotion to the sun as a symbol of the human spirit's capacity for faith and hope.

In the final stanza, the speaker reflects on the sunflower's ultimate fate. The sunflower is described as being "consumed" by the sun, but the speaker sees this as a positive thing. The sunflower's sacrifice is seen as a symbol of the human spirit's willingness to give everything for a cause or a belief. The speaker ends the poem with a powerful image of the sunflower's "golden crown" shining in the sky, a symbol of the sunflower's triumph over time and death.

One of the most striking things about "Sunflower" is its use of imagery. Smart's descriptions of the sunflower are vivid and evocative, bringing the flower to life in the reader's mind. The sunflower is described as "weary," "bowed," and "old," but also as "golden," "radiant," and "majestic." These contrasting images create a sense of tension in the poem, highlighting the sunflower's struggle to overcome its weariness and find hope in the face of adversity.

Another notable aspect of the poem is its use of personification. The sunflower is given human-like qualities, such as weariness, devotion, and sacrifice. This personification creates a sense of empathy between the reader and the sunflower, allowing us to see the flower as a symbol of our own struggles and triumphs.

The poem's structure is also worth noting. The three stanzas each explore a different aspect of the sunflower's character, creating a sense of progression and development. The first stanza sets the scene and establishes the sunflower's weariness, the second stanza explores the sunflower's relationship with the sun, and the third stanza reflects on the sunflower's ultimate fate. This structure creates a sense of unity and coherence in the poem, allowing the reader to follow the sunflower's journey from weariness to triumph.

In conclusion, Elizabeth Smart's "Sunflower" is a beautiful and powerful poem that celebrates the human spirit's capacity for hope and perseverance. Through vivid imagery, personification, and a carefully crafted structure, Smart creates a moving tribute to the power of nature and the human soul. This classic poem continues to inspire and uplift readers today, reminding us of the beauty and resilience of the world around us.

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