Introduction
The poem “Elegy for My Son” is a personal poem that has the characteristics of an elegy. It captures the speaker’s profound perspective on natural world in relation to life and death. It uses the natural images of “young tree” and the elements of earth to convey personal loss and emotional distress in the poem.
Stanza I
There must be some terrible power In the earth and wind and sunshine
How else could the young tree,
A favourite of these three
Sicken in a single day and die?
The lines express a sense of wonder and curiosity about the power of nature and how it can bring both life and death. The speaker reflects on the sudden sickness and death of a young tree, questioning how such a beloved and vibrant entity could deteriorate so rapidly. These “young tree” is supposedly to be the most loved among “earth and wind and sunshine”. The “young tree” is a symbolical reference to the youth or the speaker’s son. The speaker is expressing his grief over the death of his son in the lines. He ponders upon how it is possible for his young son be “sicken” or an attack of a disease as well as pass away in a single day.
These lines suggest a contemplation of the fragility of life and the forces that can impact it. The speaker seems to be searching for an explanation for the tree’s demise, perhaps seeking to understand the deeper workings of the natural world. It’s a reflection on the mysterious and sometimes unpredictable aspects of nature and its ability to both nurture and destroy.
Stanza II
And I who took some pride over
Planting and tending it
And caught its assent to life
The sun’s and wind’s keen sponsorship of This fine young tree, more admiring than proud.
There must be some strange excess of love
in earth and wind and sun that With notice of just a little day
Took such a fine young tree away.
The lines describe the speaker’s personal connection to the young tree or his son. The speaker takes pride in planting and caring for it, feeling a sense of accomplishment and joy as he witnesses the tree’s growth and vitality. Here, the speaker is explaining his personal role who took care of his son and saw him grow under his care. The speaker acknowledges the role of the sun, wind, and earth in nurturing the tree, seeing them as loving sponsors of its existence. It means that the elements of earth as well helped his son to grow and develop.
However, the sudden and unexpected death of the tree leaves the speaker perplexed and saddened. He expresses a sense of disbelief, wondering if there was an overwhelming abundance of love from the natural elements that caused the tree’s demise. The speaker reflects on the brevity of the tree’s life, as if it was only granted notice for a fleeting moment before being taken away.
These lines evoke a mix of emotions, from pride and admiration for the tree’s growth to a sense of loss and confusion over its untimely death. It highlights the delicate balance between life and death, and the complex interplay of natural forces that can both support and disrupt the existence of living beings.
Stanza III
Whenever I stand in the empty place, thoughts
Brandished wildly sigh and sing in memory.
Earth, wind and sun go about their work
As if nothing has occurred,
Calm as conspirators after the deed Driving me to almost believe nothing
Has happened. I am the tree that’s gone,
That tree and I being one.
These lines emphasize the speaker’s experience of standing in the empty space left behind by the departed tree. He expresses his utter isolation and sadness left the sudden death of his son. In this moment, the speaker’s thoughts come alive, swirling with memories and emotions. The earth, wind, and sun continue their natural processes, seemingly unaffected by the absence of the tree. It could mean the passage of time and convey that life continues to move on even after death.
The speaker describes the calmness of these natural elements, almost like conspirators who have completed their deed. This contrast between the speaker’s internal turmoil and the external serenity of nature highlights the deep impact the tree’s absence has on the speaker’s emotions.
The speaker identifies himself with the tree, suggesting a profound connection and unity in it. The loss of the tree becomes a personal loss for the speaker, as if a part of himself has been taken away. These lines evoke a sense of longing, grief, and a struggle to come to terms with the void left by the departed tree.
Overall, these lines emphasize the emotional impact of the tree’s absence and the speaker’s deep identification with it, as well as the contrasting calmness of the natural world.
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