Verses on Various Occasions · Chapter
Snapdragon explained
The speaker, a snapdragon flower rooted in a wall, reflects on its humble existence compared to more glamorous flowers.
What happens
The speaker, a snapdragon flower rooted in a wall, reflects on its humble existence compared to more glamorous flowers. It finds worth in its lowly position, embracing restraint and the ability to bring life to barren stone. The poem culminates in a sudden fragrance, a divine comfort, suggesting a spiritual purpose in its quiet life.
Themes in this chapter
Nature and the Divine
The snapdragon's sudden fragrance is a divine gift, revealing the unseen Hand Divine in the natural world.
Humility and Suffering
The flower embraces its lowly position, finding worth in restraint and cheerful pains, contrasting with proud flowers.
Characters to notice
- Unknown
The speaker of the poem, a snapdragon flower, reflecting on its humble life.
- Nature
Referenced as the source of braver flowers and the natural world the speaker contrasts with its own artificial home.
- Heaven
Mentioned as the source of approving power and the answering breath that gives the flower fragrance.
Key passages
“I am rooted in the wall Of buttress’d tower or ancient hall; Prison’d in an art-wrought bed. Cased in mortar, cramp’d with lead;”
I am a plant growing out of a stone wall, trapped in a man-made bed, surrounded by mortar and lead.
The speaker describes its constrained, artificial environment.
“Mine, the Unseen to display In the crowded public way, Where life’s busy arts combine To shut out the Hand Divine.”
My purpose is to reveal the invisible divine presence in busy public places where human activities obscure God's hand.
The flower sees its role as making the divine visible amidst human distractions.
“Ah! no more a scentless flower, By approving Heaven’s high power, Suddenly my leaves exhale Fragrance of the Syrian gale.”
Suddenly, by Heaven's approval, my leaves release a fragrance like a wind from Syria, no longer being scentless.
A divine intervention transforms the flower, giving it a sweet scent.