Review: "A Contemplation upon flowers" by Henry King
A CONTEMPLATION OF FLOWERS WRITEN BY HENRY KING :
Brave flowers that I could gallant it like you, And be as little vain! You come abroad, and make a harmless show, And to your beds of earth again. You are not proud: you know your birth: For your embroider'd garments are from earth. You do obey your months and times, but I Would have it ever Spring: My fate would know no Winter, never die, Nor think of such a thing. O that I could my bed of earth but view And smile, and look as cheerfully as you! O teach me to see Death and not to fear, But rather to take truce! How often have I seen you at a bier, And there look fresh and spruce! You fragrant flowers! then teach me, that my breath Like yours may sweeten and perfume my death.
REVIEW :
In the poem A contemplation of flowers Henry King examines life and death by contemplating on a beautiful aspect of nature; the flowers who are quiet and beautify even when faced with death. A contemplation upon flowers was written as a coping mechanism for Henry King, after facing so much grief after the loss of his loved ones, It explains his fear of death which is why he was pondering over the flowers and why he compares the flowers to human life. The cycle life and death is one in which the flower embraces because it knows its purpose, King frowns upon the fact that humans have that drastic difference from that aspect if nature ; a fear of death. In the poem Henry writes about how he wishes to have an agreement with death, to view it as a part of life and something he smiles and embraces just like the flower. Henry king does not want to fear death but rather be as gallant as the flowers, because just like that aspect of nature humans also owe their life to nature, the poet struggles with wanting to Be immortal to never have to confront death but rather be immune to it because it scares him , So in this poem Henry King uses his admiration for the flowers and the way in which death does not affect them to teach himself to be like them, and seize death just like how he seized life.
