The Old English Garden - A Floral Phantasy

By Walter Crane

Narrative Poem
    In an old world garden dreaming,     Where the flowers had human names,     Methought, in fantastic seeming,     They disported as squires and dames.     Of old in Rosamond's Bower,     With it's peacock hedges of yew,     One could never find the flower     Unless one was given the clue;     So take the key of the wicket,     Who would follow my fancy free,     By formal knot and clipt thicket,     And smooth greensward so fair to see     And while Time his scythe is whetting,     Ere the dew from the grass has gone,     The Four Seasons' flight forgetting,     As they dance round the dial stone;     With a leaf from an old English book,     A Jonquil will serve for a pen.     Let us note from the green arbour's nook,     Flowers masking like women and men.     FIRST in VENUS'S LOOKING GLASS,     You may see where LOVE LIES BLEEDING,     While PRETTY MAIDS all of them pass     With careless hearts quite unheeding.     Next, a knight with his flaming targe     See the DENT-DE-LION so bold     With his feathery crest at large,     On a field of the cloth of gold.     Simple honesty shows in vain     A fashion few seek to robe in,     While the poor SHEPHERD'S-PURSE is ta'en     By rascally RAGGED-ROBIN.

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Poem Details

Language: English
Keywords: Public Domain
Source: Public Domain Collection
Rights/Permissions: Public Domain
Analysis & Notes:
This poem is a rich and whimsical exploration of a garden, where flowers are personified and given human characteristics, creating a lively tableau that blurs the boundaries between nature and humanity. The theme revolves around the garden as a microcosm of society, where flowers, like humans, play different roles and possess different identities.

The poem's tone is playful and a bit nostalgic, with a clear fondness for the "old world" garden, a space where the poet's imagination can roam freely. The structure of the poem, which includes rhymed couplets, adds to this rhythm and playfulness. A standout literary device is the poet's use of anthropomorphism, attributing human traits to flowers, which not only brings the garden to life, but also allows the poet to explore human behaviors and societal dynamics in an imaginative and non-threatening environment.

The use of capitalized flower names, which also serve as human names or titles, creates a vivid and engaging picture of the garden's inhabitants. This imagery is further enhanced by the poet's use of metaphor, as when the poet describes time as a farmer sharpening his scythe, suggesting the inevitable passage of time and the fleeting nature of life. In its entirety, the poem is a delightful blend of fantasy and reality, highlighting the beauty and complexity of both the natural world and human society.

Exploring Narrative Poetry

Narrative poetry is a form of poetry that tells a story, often making use of the voices of a narrator and characters as well. Unlike lyric poetry, which focuses on emotions and thoughts, narrative poetry is dedicated to storytelling, weaving tales that captivate readers through plot and character development.

Narrative poems are unique in their ability to combine the depth of storytelling with the expressive qualities of poetry. Here are some defining characteristics:

  • Structured Plot: Narrative poems typically have a clear beginning, middle, and end, following a plot that might involve conflict, climax, and resolution, much like a short story or novel.
  • Character Development: Characters in narrative poems are often well-developed, with distinct voices and personalities that drive the story forward.
  • Descriptive Language: The language used in narrative poetry is vivid and descriptive, painting a clear picture of the scenes and events, while also conveying the emotions and atmosphere of the story.

From ancient epics like "The Iliad" and "The Odyssey" to more modern narrative poems, this form continues to engage readers by blending the art of storytelling with the beauty and rhythm of poetry.