Welcome to Poem of the Day – From the Garden by Anne Sexton
Anne Sexton is one of the most powerful voices in American confessional poetry. Her work is known for its emotional depth, honesty, and vivid imagery. Today, we look at her poem From the Garden, a short but striking piece that captures the mood of a garden in an unexpected and haunting way.
From the Garden Poem
Come, my beloved,
consider the lilies.
We are of little faith.
We talk too much.
Put your mouth
where your mind is.
Let us rest like the cup
of a flower on a stem.
He is so small
he can wear
courage
like a rose.
He is so white
he can spark
like a plum tree.
Let us lie down
and dig ourselves under.
We are as weak
as the daisies.
From the Garden Explanation
Sexton’s From the Garden is a meditative and emotional poem. It invites the reader to enter a quiet space of reflection, much like a peaceful garden. The poem may seem simple at first, but it holds deep meaning.
Line-by-Line Analysis
“Come, my beloved, / consider the lilies.”
This is a call to someone close, possibly a lover or a friend. “Consider the lilies” is a phrase from the Bible. It means to stop worrying and trust in the natural flow of life. Sexton is asking for a moment of peace and thought.
“We are of little faith. / We talk too much.”
These lines express doubt and self-awareness. The speaker admits to lacking faith and being too caught up in words. This could reflect the poet‘s inner conflict—wanting peace, but being overwhelmed by thoughts.
“Put your mouth / where your mind is.”
This is a twist on the saying “put your money where your mouth is.” Here, Sexton may be urging us to express our thoughts truthfully. Or, she may be asking for silence and intimacy instead of constant talking.
“Let us rest like the cup / of a flower on a stem.”
This is a beautiful image. Flowers rest quietly on their stems, perfectly balanced. Sexton is asking for that same stillness and grace.
“He is so small / he can wear / courage / like a rose.”
This mysterious “he” might be a child, a god, or a symbol of purity. He is small, but brave. Courage, in this image, is soft and beautiful, like a rose pinned to the chest.
“He is so white / he can spark / like a plum tree.”
White often symbolizes purity. The plum tree blooming in spring becomes a sign of life and light. This could represent hope or divine presence.
“Let us lie down / and dig ourselves under.”
This sounds like a desire to escape. Maybe the speaker wants to return to the earth, to hide, or to become part of the garden. It could be peaceful, but also a little dark—possibly hinting at death.
“We are as weak / as the daisies.”
Daisies are delicate flowers. This final line admits human frailty. It’s a soft ending that echoes both beauty and vulnerability.
Themes in the Poem
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Nature as Comfort: The garden is a place of peace, growth, and quiet beauty. Sexton uses flowers and trees to reflect the inner world of the speaker.
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Faith and Doubt: The poem speaks of “little faith,” hinting at spiritual or emotional uncertainty.
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Silence and Intimacy: Sexton longs for rest and silence, for a return to something pure and simple.
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Life and Death: There are subtle references to death. Lying down and digging under the earth may suggest burial or a desire to disappear.
Tone and Mood
The tone is quiet and tender, but with an undercurrent of sadness. The mood feels reflective, intimate, and slightly melancholy. There’s beauty in every line, but also a deep emotional weight.
Conclusion
From the Garden is a short poem, but it carries powerful emotions. Anne Sexton uses the natural world to explore themes of weakness, peace, and quiet connection. Her images are soft, but they touch deep parts of the human experience. Like many of her poems, this one invites us to stop, feel, and reflect.
Sexton reminds us that even in weakness, there is beauty. Even in silence, there is meaning. And even in the smallest flower, there is a world of emotion waiting to bloom.
