"I Can . . . I Will . . . Replace Those Weeds with Beautiful Flowers!" BY cherry pedrick
I am burdened with floating anxieties.
They are nameless fears that seem to float in the air like seeds of ugly weeds. They take root in my mind and are watered with thoughts and fed by worries They poke through as seedlings, barely recognizable but gaining in importance. They grow into more worries with names and faces. Fully grown, they are very difficult to be rid of. But the sooner caught the easier I can rid my mind of them. If only I could blow them away when they’re still floating in the air, Then reach out and replace them with the seeds of beautiful flowers, Good thoughts and memories, blessings of today and yesterday. I could . . . well, I can . . . let them take root in my mind And grow into dreams and goals, plans and commitments. I will fill my mind with these so there’s no room for anxiety, fears and worries. |
Lilacs in a Vase. 1882. Nationalgalerie, Berlin. By Manet.
|
Poem Analysis
When reading this poem, I quickly associated it to Their Eyes Were Watching God because of both protagonists battling for their freedom, whether it be from a companion or their state of mentality. Pedrick examines and discusses her struggles with constant angst from her OCD, "floating anxieties" continually encompassing and attacking her thoughts, and how they are constantly provoked through her everyday life. By illustrating the life stages of a plant by using an extended metaphor, Pedrick demonstrates her desire to "sprout" out of her troubles in spite of the fact that the obsessions are rooted deep into her mind. She decides to not have reliance on her struggles. Similarly, the character of Janie finds herself gaining independence from influences in her life. Rather than a mental disorder, Janie splits far from concealment and submission in a male-dominant society. As opposed to permitting herself to be subjected to ridicule and mentally abusive circumstances, Janie soon achieves a strong sense of self and comes to appreciate her independence.
The poem's structure is entirely a free-verse extended metaphor, comparing her mentality state with the life cycle of a plant. This is revealed in the first line and proceeds throughout the rest of the poem (specifically lines 1 and 3-6). The following rhetorical device shown in this poem is a simile, comparing her fears to seeds of ugly weeds. This translates into her fears being unwelcomed and grimaced upon by outcasts. Finally, the poem shows a shift in tone in the middle, allowing for equal distribution between positive and negative perspectives. The poem begins with a negative observation upon the situation but then gradually forms into a tone of motivation and recuperation. Generally speaking, this poem inspires an enthusiastic response from the reader.
The poem's structure is entirely a free-verse extended metaphor, comparing her mentality state with the life cycle of a plant. This is revealed in the first line and proceeds throughout the rest of the poem (specifically lines 1 and 3-6). The following rhetorical device shown in this poem is a simile, comparing her fears to seeds of ugly weeds. This translates into her fears being unwelcomed and grimaced upon by outcasts. Finally, the poem shows a shift in tone in the middle, allowing for equal distribution between positive and negative perspectives. The poem begins with a negative observation upon the situation but then gradually forms into a tone of motivation and recuperation. Generally speaking, this poem inspires an enthusiastic response from the reader.