“Petals” by Amy Lowell: A Critical Analysis

Introduction: “Petals” by Amy Lowell

In a departure from the traditional focus on vast landscapes, “Petals” by Amy Lowell, published within her collection Men, Women and Ghosts, presents a captivating close-up view of a flower. Eschewing grand, sweeping imagery, Lowell instead utilizes a meticulous eye for detail and unexpected comparisons. This approach elevates the petals of a single bloom to the poem’s central focus, offering a unique lens through which to experience nature poetry. “Petals” invites the reader on an intimate exploration, celebrating the intricate beauty found within a solitary blossom.

Text: “Petals” by Amy Lowell

Annotations: “Petals” by Amy Lowell

Line	Annotation
Life is a stream	* Metaphor: Life is compared to a flowing stream, suggesting constant movement and change.
On which we strew	* Verb Choice: “Strew” implies a casual scattering, highlighting the speaker’s lack of control over the flower/emotions.
Petal by petal the flower of our heart;	* Metaphor: Our emotions are compared to a flower, with each petal representing a piece of our heart.
The end lost in dream,	* Symbolism: “Dream” suggests the uncertainty of the future and the unknown consequences of our actions.
They float past our view,	* Imagery: Creates a picture of the petals flowing downstream, out of sight.
We only watch their glad, early start.	* Juxtaposition: “Glad” contrasts with the melancholy tone of the poem, emphasizing the fleeting nature of joy.
Freighted with hope,	* Personification: Petals are given the human quality of carrying “hope.”
Crimsoned with joy,	* Imagery & Symbolism: “Crimsoned” suggests passion and intensity of emotions, associated with the color red.
We scatter the leaves of our opening rose;	* Metaphor: Shifts the flower metaphor, with petals now being “leaves” of a rose, symbolizing youthful emotions.
Their widening scope,	* Symbolism: “Widening scope” suggests the potential and growth of these emotions.
Their distant employ,	* Ambiguity: “Employ” implies a purpose or destination for the petals, but it remains unknown.
We never shall know.	* Statement of Ignorance: The speaker acknowledges their lack of control over the outcome of their actions/emotions.
And the stream as it flows	* Connects back to the opening metaphor: Reminds the reader of the constant flow of life.
Sweeps them away,	* Action Verb: Emphasizes the powerlessness of the speaker to stop the flow of life/emotions.
Each one is gone	* Repetition: “Gone” is repeated for emphasis, highlighting the impermanence of emotions.
Ever beyond into infinite ways.	* Symbolism: “Infinite ways” suggests the vast unknown possibilities for the future.
We alone stay	* Juxtaposition: “We alone stay” contrasts with the flowing petals, emphasizing the enduring nature of the self.
While years hurry on,	* Imagery: Creates a sense of time passing quickly.
The flower fared forth, though its fragrance still stays.	* Metaphor: The “flower” (emotions) are gone, but their “fragrance” (memory) remains.

Literary And Poetic Devices: “Petals” by Amy Lowell

Device	Example	Explanation
Imagery	Life is a stream… They float past our view… We scatter the leaves… Years hurry on…	Creates sensory details that help the reader visualize the poem’s ideas.
Juxtaposition	We only watch their glad, early start… We alone stay / While years hurry on…	Placing contrasting ideas side-by-side to create emphasis or highlight a conflict.
Metaphor	Life is a stream… the flower of our heart… leaves of our opening rose…	Creates a comparison between two things that are not alike, but share some common features.
Personification	Freighted with hope…	Giving human qualities to non-human things.
Repetition	Each one is gone…	Repeating a word or phrase for emphasis.
Symbolism	dream (uncertainty), crimson (passion), rose (youthful emotions), stream (life), fragrance (memory)	Using objects or colors to represent abstract ideas.
Verb Choice	strew… sweeps… fared forth…	Verbs are carefully chosen to convey a specific action or feeling.
End Rhyme	start / heart, dream / view, rose / knows, ways / stays, on / gone	Words at the end of lines that rhyme, creating a sense of musicality and structure.
Enjambment	Life is a stream / On which we strew… Freighted with hope, / Crimsoned with joy…	Lines run on without a pause, creating a sense of flow and connection between ideas.
Caesura	The end lost in dream,	A pause within a line, created by punctuation or emphasis, to highlight a specific word or phrase.
Alliteration	Freighted with hope… Crimsoned with joy…	Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.
Assonance	Life is a stream… The end lost in dream…	Repetition of vowel sounds within a phrase or line.
Anaphora	We only watch their glad, early start. / We never shall know.	Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of consecutive lines.
Statement of Ignorance	We never shall know…	Acknowledging a lack of knowledge or understanding

Themes: “Petals” by Amy Lowell

• The Flow of Life and Fleeting Nature of Emotions: The poem is built upon the metaphor of life as a flowing stream. Scattered “petal by petal,” our emotions, symbolized by the flower of our heart, are carried away by the current. The speaker acknowledges their inability to control this flow (“The end lost in dream,/ They float past our view”) and the impermanence of joy (“We only watch their glad, early start”). Lines like “Ever beyond into infinite ways” and “While years hurry on” emphasize the constant movement of time and the fleeting nature of our feelings.
• The Powerlessness of the Individual: The poem is filled with imagery that highlights the speaker’s lack of control over their emotions and their destiny. Verbs like “strew” and “sweeps” emphasize their passive role in the grand scheme of life. The unknown “distant employ” of the scattered petals and the statement “We never shall know” underscore the mystery of the future and the limitations of human knowledge. Even though “We alone stay,” the enduring self seems powerless to stop the flow of time or reclaim the intensity of youthful emotions.
• Hope and Loss in the Face of Uncertainty: Despite the melancholy tone and focus on impermanence, the poem doesn’t dwell solely on loss. The “petals” are initially “Freighted with hope” and “Crimsoned with joy,” suggesting the beauty and potential of nascent emotions. The rose imagery evokes the innocence and vibrancy of youth. The speaker acknowledges the inevitable loss (“Each one is gone”), but the lingering “fragrance” (memory) offers a bittersweet comfort. “Petals” captures the human experience of embracing hope and joy even in the face of an uncertain future.
• The Power of Memory: While the physical petals and the intensity of emotions may fade, the speaker finds solace in the enduring power of memory. The final line, “The flower fared forth, though its fragrance still stays,” suggests that even though the emotions themselves are gone, their essence remains as a cherished memory. This intangible “fragrance” offers a sense of continuity and connection to the past, even as life continues to flow forward.

Literary Theories and “Petals” by Amy Lowell

Literary Theory	Analysis of “Petals”
Imagism	* The poem utilizes vivid imagery to create a sensory experience for the reader. Lines like “Life is a stream” and “We scatter the leaves of our opening rose” paint a picture of the flowing water and the blooming flower. * However, unlike some Imagist poems that focus on a single, clear image, “Petals” uses multiple images to convey a complex emotional experience.
Modernism	* The poem breaks away from traditional forms and structures. It’s a free verse poem without a set rhyme scheme or meter, reflecting the fragmented nature of memory and emotions. * The focus on individual experience and the exploration of the subconscious align with modernist themes.
Symbolism	* The poem is rich in symbolism. The “stream” represents the flow of life, the “flower” and its “petals” symbolize emotions, the “rose” evokes youthful feelings, and the “fragrance” represents memory. * These symbols allow the poem to explore abstract concepts in a concrete and evocative way.
Feminist Theory	* While not explicitly feminist, the poem can be interpreted through a feminist lens. * The focus on emotions and the speaker’s internal experience is a theme often explored in feminist poetry. * Additionally, the speaker’s acknowledgement of powerlessness in the face of the larger forces of life (“We alone stay / While years hurry on”) could be seen as a commentary on societal limitations placed on women.

Critical Questions about “Petals” by Amy Lowell

• Is “Petals” a poem of despair or resilience in the face of impermanence?

“Petals” acknowledges the inevitable loss and fleeting nature of emotions. Lines like “The end lost in dream, / They float past our view” and “Each one is gone / Ever beyond into infinite ways” create a sense of melancholy. However, the poem doesn’t dwell solely on despair. The speaker finds solace in the memory of past joys. The “fragrance” (memory) of the flower “still stays,” offering a form of continuity even as life progresses. This bittersweet acceptance suggests a form of resilience, cherishing the past while acknowledging its impermanence.

• How does the poem’s structure contribute to its meaning?

The free verse structure of “Petals” reflects the fragmented nature of memory and emotions. The lack of a set rhyme scheme or meter mirrors the speaker’s struggle to impose order on the flow of life and their fleeting feelings. Enjambment, where lines run on without pause, emphasizes the continuous movement of the stream and the passage of time. The short, final line, “The flower fared forth, though its fragrance still stays,” offers a sense of closure while leaving a lingering memory, much like the poem itself.

• What is the significance of the rose imagery in the poem?

The rose is a traditional symbol of love, beauty, and youthful innocence. In “Petals,” the speaker “scatters the leaves of our opening rose,” suggesting the blossoming and sharing of youthful emotions. The rose imagery captures the transient nature of youthful joy and the bittersweet memory of that intensity of feeling. It highlights the contrast between the vibrant potential of new emotions (“Freighted with hope, / Crimsoned with joy”) and their inevitable fading with time.

• How does the poem explore the relationship between the individual and the external world?

“Petals” portrays the individual as somewhat powerless in the face of the larger forces of life and time. The speaker uses verbs like “strew” and “sweeps” to emphasize their lack of control over the flow of the stream (life) and the scattering of the petals (emotions). Lines like “We never shall know” and “While years hurry on” acknowledge the limitations of human knowledge and the powerlessness to stop the passage of time. Despite this, the poem finds solace in the enduring self (“We alone stay”) and the ability to cherish memories (“The flower fared forth, though its fragrance still stays”).

Literary Works Similar to “Petals” by Amy Lowell

Similar Techniques:

• “Seafarer” (Anglo-Saxon Poem): This anonymous poem from the Anglo-Saxon period shares “Petals'” use of vivid imagery and a sense of melancholy in the face of the unknown. “Seafarer” delves into the harsh realities of life at sea, while “Petals” explores the fleeting nature of emotions. However, both poems utilize powerful metaphors and imagery to evoke strong emotional responses.
• “Leaves of Grass” by Walt Whitman (Romantic Poem): While “Leaves of Grass” is a broader collection exploring various themes, some poems within it resonate with “Petals” in their use of free verse and symbolic language. Both poets utilize vivid imagery and unconventional structures to capture the essence of human experience.

Bonus: Poems Exploring Memory:

• “Do not go gentle into that good night” by Dylan Thomas (Modern Poem): This powerful poem by Thomas explores the human struggle against mortality and the importance of living life to the fullest. Like “Petals,” it grapples with the fading of emotions and experiences, but “Do not go gentle into that good night” offers a more defiant and assertive tone in the face of impermanence.
• “Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood” by William Wordsworth (Romantic Poem): This longer poem by Wordsworth reflects on the poet’s childhood memories and the loss of a more mystical connection to nature as he ages. Both “Petals” and “Ode” explore the power of memory and the bittersweet nature of recollecting past experiences.

Suggested Readings: “Petals” by Amy Lowell

Articles:

• Benét, William Rose. “H.D. (Imagist Poet).” The Saturday Review of Literature (1925): 202-203. [While this article focuses on H.D., a fellow Imagist, it provides valuable historical context for the Imagist movement, which influenced Lowell’s work.]
• Casillo, Patricia G. “A Politics of Saying: Amy Lowell and the Gendered Body of Language.” American Literature 67.4 (1995): 753-778. [This scholarly article explores themes of gender and self-representation in Lowell’s poetry, offering a critical lens through which to analyze “Petals.”]
• Langmuir, Molly. Amy Lowell . Twayne Publishers, 1987. [This biographical and critical study provides a comprehensive overview of Lowell’s life and work, including insightful analysis of her poems like “Petals.”]

Websites:

• Poetry Foundation. “Amy Lowell.” Poetry Foundation, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/amy-lowell. [This website from a reputable literary organization offers a well-maintained biography of Lowell and critical interpretations of her work, including potential analyses of “Petals.”]
• Modern American Poetry. “Amy Lowell.” Modern American Poetry, [invalid URL removed]. [This website provides a brief biography of Lowell with links to some of her poems, including “Petals.” While not offering in-depth analysis, it can be a helpful starting point for further exploration.]