Introduction

The poem “Song of the Flower” is written by Khalil Gibran. The poem talks about the interconnectedness between nature, life, and the human experience. The poem personifies a flower, which serves as a symbol for the cyclical nature of life, growth, and death. Through vivid imagery and metaphor, Gibran conveys the idea that all living beings are part of a larger, harmonious whole. The poem encourages reflection on the transient nature of life and the beauty that can be found in embracing the natural cycle of life. It ultimately conveys a message of acceptance, interconnectedness, and the wisdom inherent in nature’s rhythms.

About the poet

Gibran Khalil Gibran, widely known as Khalil Gibran, was born in 1833 in Bsharri, Lebanon. He was an Arabic writer. He was also considered a poet, artist and philosopher. His poetic style is characterized by its lyrical beauty and timeless wisdom that resonates across generations. Gibran’s most famous work, “The Prophet,” is a collection of poetic essays that has been translated into numerous languages. The book contained a total of 26 poetic essays. Some of his famous poems are “A Tear and a Smile” and “The Farewell”.

Structure

The poem is a lyric poem. It is written in 7 stanzas. Each stanza varies in length. The first stanza is written in 9 lines. After the first stanza, the rest of the stanzas are written in the quatrain and the tercel form alternatively.

Stanza 1

I am a kind word uttered and repeated

By the voice of Nature;

I am a star fallen from the

Blue tent upon the green carpet.

I am the daughter of the elements

With whom Winter conceived;

To whom Spring gave birth; I was

Reared in the lap of Summer and I

Slept in the bed of Autumn.

Summary

The speaker begins by personifying himself as a kind word that echoes through the voice of Nature. He identifies himself as a celestial entity, a star that has descended from the beautiful canopy to rest upon the vibrant earth. The speaker claims his lineage from the elements, conceived by Winter and brought forward by Spring. He describes his nurturing and growth, cradled by Summer and finding repose in the embrace of Autumn. Through this vivid imagery, the speaker portrays himself as an integral part of the natural world, intimately connected to the cycles and seasons of life.

Analysis

The poet vivid imagery and personification to convey a profound sense of identity and connection with the natural world. He personifies himself as a “kind word uttered and repeated by the voice of Nature.” This personification gives the poet a sense of agency and purpose, suggesting that he serves as a harmonious element within the grand scheme of the world. The poet in the next lines makes use of metaphor. The metaphor of being a “star fallen from the blue tent upon the green carpet” is used to create a celestial imagery. It portrays the speaker as a radiant entity descending from the heavens to the fertile, welcoming earth.

The poet also describes himself as the “daughter of the elements.” This personification gives a familial quality to the poem and portrays the elements as having an active part in the creation of the poem. Winter is depicted as the conceiving parent, while Spring is portrayed as the nurturing mother who gives birth.

The imagery of being “reared in the lap of Summer” and having “slept in the bed of Autumn” vividly captures the seasonal cycle. This imagery emphasizes the speaker’s intimate connection to the natural world, where they find sustenance, growth, and rest.

Stanza 2

At dawn I unite with the breeze

To announce the coming of light;

At eventide I join the birds 

In bidding the light farewell.

Summary

In this stanza, the speaker describes his intimate connection with the natural world. At dawn, he aligns himself with the gentle breeze, becoming the announcer of the approaching light. In the evening, he once again integrates with nature, this time joining the birds in their farewell to the fading light. This evokes a sense of unity with the creatures of the sky, highlighting the speaker’s harmonious relationship with the elements and the cycle of day and night.

Analysis

In this stanza, the poet employs vivid imagery and personification to convey a profound sense of unity with nature and its cycles. The poet personifies himself as becoming one with the breeze in the morning. This personification implies a sense of purpose and harmony in the speaker’s relationship with the environment. The phrase “To announce the coming of light” carries a sense of agency, suggesting that he plays an active role in heralding the arrival of daylight.

Similarly, in the evening, the speaker joins the birds in bidding farewell to the fading light. This personification of the act of bidding farewell highlights the sense of ritual and significance that the poet feels towards nature. The poet has also used parallelism in his actions at dawn and at evening. This parallelism highlights the cyclical nature of day and night.

Stanza 3

The plains are decorated with

My beautiful colors, and the air

Is scented with my fragrance.

Summary

The speaker here vividly expresses his presence and influence in the natural world. He claims that the plains are decorated with his vibrant colors, suggesting that he brings a vivid beauty to the landscape. Moreover, he asserts that the air carries his scent, indicating that he permeates the environment with a delightful fragrance.

Analysis

In this part of the poem, the poet talks about how he makes the fields look beautiful with his bright colors. He also mentions that the air around him carries a pleasant smell because of him. This means he has a strong influence on how things look and even how they smell in nature.

It’s like he’s adding a special touch to the world around him. This further highlights the poet’s intimate connection with the elements, portraying him as an integral part of the sensory experience of the natural world.

Stanza 4

As I embrace Slumber the eyes of

Night watch over me, and as I

Awaken I stare at the Sun, which is

The only eye of the day.

Summary

The speaker describes his relationship with the natural world, particularly with the transitions between night and day. When he goes to sleep, he imagines that the night is like a watchful guardian looking after him. This implies a sense of comfort and security in the embrace of nighttime. When he wakes up, he gazes at the Sun, which he sees as the singular “eye” of the day. It’s like the eye that sees everything that happens during the day.

Analysis

The poet talks about how he feels connected to the different parts of the day. The poet uses personification and the night is given human-like qualities. Night is treated as a guardian watching over the poet as he sleeps. It shows that the poet feels safe and cared for when he sleeps. When he wakes up, he looks at the Sun and calls it the “only eye of the day.” This metaphor compares the Sun to an eye. It means that the Sun is like the main watcher or observer during the daytime.

Through these lines, the poet shows how he feels a strong connection to nature and how he sees different parts of the day as if they were like people or things watching over him.

Stanza 5

I drink dew for wine and harken to

The voices of the birds, and dance

To the rhythmic swaying of the grass.

Summary

The speaker describes his simple pleasures in this stanza. He says he enjoys dew, which he compares to wine. This shows how much he appreciates the small, natural things. He also listens to the birds singing, which brings him joy. It’s like their voices are a kind of music to him. He even imagines himself dancing to the gentle movement of the grass, which is another way he feels connected to nature.

Analysis

In this part of the poem, the poet talks about how he finds joy in simple things from nature. He uses metaphor and compares the morning dew to wine. This shows that he enjoys them just as much as someone might enjoy a drink of wine. It shows how much he appreciates the natural world around him.

He also listens to the birds singing. He compares their voices to music, showing how much he enjoys their songs. The poet imagines himself dancing to the swaying of the grass and creates a visual image of him darning in the grass.

Stanza 6

I am the lover’s gift; I am the wedding wreath;

I am the memory of a moment of happiness;

I am the last gift of the living to the dead;

I am a part of joy and a part of sorrow.

Summary

The speaker expresses his identity and significance in various meaningful moments of life. He sees himself as a cherished present for lovers, symbolizing their affection. He also identifies as a wedding wreath, representing the union of two people in love.

The speaker believes he is the representation of memories of fleeting moments of joy, serving as a reminder of happiness. He takes pride in being a final offering from the living to the dead, signifying the lasting connection between life and death. He also acknowledges being a part of both joy and sorrow, showing that he is an integral part of the emotions experienced by humans.

Analysis

In this part of the poem, the poet talks about the roles he plays in different moments of life. He uses a metaphor and compares himself to a cherished present that symbolizes love. He also uses the symbolic image of the wedding wreath to represent the union of two people in love.

The poet believes he embodies memories of happy moments. He also sees himself as a final gift given by the living to those who have passed away. This signifies the strong connection between life and death. The poet acknowledges that he is a part of both joy and sorrow. This means he is involved in both happy and sad moments in life.

Stanza 7

But I look up high to see only the light,

And never look down to see my shadow.

This is wisdom which man must learn.

Summary

The speaker leaves the readers with a valuable lesson about wisdom in this stanza. He tells us that he only looks upwards, seeking only the light, and never directs his attention downward to observe his own shadow. This means he focuses on the positive and uplifting aspects of life, rather than dwelling on negativity or darker aspects. This approach, according to the speaker, holds the key to true wisdom.

Analysis

As he fishes the poem, the poet shares a piece of wisdom about how to approach life. He says that he always looks up towards the light, and never looks down to see his shadow. This is a metaphor for focusing on the positive and bright aspects of life, rather than getting caught up in negative or darker thoughts.

By saying he looks up to see the light, it means he seeks out positivity and goodness. And by not looking down at his shadow, he’s avoided thinking of negativity or problems. The speaker believes this way of thinking is a form of wisdom that people should learn. He suggests that having a positive outlook and focusing on only the good things in life is a valuable lesson for everyone.