Poem Analysis - This Is The Garden Colours Come And Go

A Garden of Fleeting Beauty and Eternal Presence

E.E. Cummings' "This Is The Garden: Colours Come And Go" is a meditation on the transient nature of beauty and the enduring presence of something deeper, perhaps spiritual, within the natural world. The poem evokes a sense of both fleeting delight and profound stillness, moving from vibrant descriptions of color to intimations of mortality. While the tone is initially celebratory, it gradually adopts a more melancholic and contemplative mood as it acknowledges the inevitability of time and death. Despite this acknowledgment, the poem ultimately suggests a realm of perpetual beauty and peace coexisting with the ephemeral.

The Interplay of Beauty and Mortality

One of the central themes in this poem is the tension between beauty and mortality. The opening lines, "this is the garden:colours come and go," immediately establish the ephemeral nature of beauty, highlighting the constant flux and change within the natural world. Cummings uses vivid imagery of "frail azures fluttering" and "absolute lights like baths of golden snow" to capture the vibrancy and fleeting quality of these colors. However, the later lines, "Time shall surely reap / and on Death's blade lie many a flower curled," directly confront the inevitability of death and the impermanence of all things beautiful. This juxtaposition underscores the poem's exploration of how beauty, despite its transient nature, can still hold profound meaning.

The Garden as a Sanctuary of Sound and Spirit

Beyond its visual beauty, the garden also functions as a sanctuary of sound and spirit. The lines "ursed lips do blow / upon cool flutes within wide glooms,and sing / (of harps celestial to the quivering string) / invisible faces hauntingly and slow" suggest an ethereal realm inhabited by unseen entities. This section introduces a spiritual dimension to the garden, implying a connection to something beyond the tangible world. The "ursed lips" and "harps celestial" evoke a sense of otherworldly music and beauty, suggesting that the garden is not merely a physical space but also a conduit to a higher realm. This use of aural imagery contrasts the visual descriptions of the beginning, adding to the complexity of the garden.

Symbolism of Light and Shadow

The poem employs light and shadow as recurring symbols to represent the interplay between life and death, presence and absence. The "absolute lights like baths of golden snow" symbolize the vibrant energy and life force within the garden. In contrast, the "wide glooms" suggest the presence of shadow, darkness, and the unknown. This contrast is further emphasized by the presence of "invisible faces," which exist in a liminal space between visibility and invisibility. The "silver-fingered fountain" in the final lines also suggests a source of light and life that "steals the world," perhaps implying a gentle and continuous renewal despite the presence of death. It is possible that the "silver-fingered fountain" might symbolize the passage of time, both life-giving and life-taking; it "steals the world" in that time slowly erodes it.

Eternal Beauty Amidst Transience

In conclusion, "This Is The Garden: Colours Come And Go" is a poignant reflection on the ephemeral nature of beauty and the enduring presence of something deeper within the natural world. Through vivid imagery, contrasting symbols, and a shift in tone, Cummings explores the interplay between life and death, presence and absence. While acknowledging the inevitability of time and mortality, the poem ultimately suggests that beauty and peace can persist even in the face of transience. The poem's lasting significance lies in its ability to evoke a sense of both fleeting delight and profound stillness, reminding us to appreciate the beauty of the present moment while also recognizing the enduring presence of something beyond our immediate perception. The garden becomes a metaphor for life itself, beautiful and fleeting, yet connected to something eternal.