Song of the Flower poem by Khalil Gibran is very delicately conveys the essence ethos of a flower on in natural world as well as the lesson it carries for we humans. The explanation and analysis of the poem is done here for the poem lovers. Enjoy the poem now.
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Stanza Wise Explanation (Song of the Flower)
Stanza 1:
“I am a kind word uttered and repeated
By the voice of Nature;
I am a star fallen from the
Blue tent upon the green carpet.
I am the daughter of the elements
With whom Winter conceived;
To whom Spring gave birth; I was
Reared in the lap of Summer and I
Slept in the bed of Autumn.”
Vocabulary: Uttered: Spoken; Conceived: Created or formed; Reared: Raised or nurtured; Lap: Metaphor for care and protection; Elements: Basic natural forces like air, water, earth, and fire; Blue tent: Sky; Green carpet: The earth or ground covered with grass.
Meaning: The poem begins with the speaker (the flower) describing itself as a product of Nature which
is spread all over (repeated). The flower compares itself to a star from the blue sky which has
fallen upon the green earth.
The flower is associated with nature from time itself. It has been nurtured by the natural changes of the world. The bulb (of the flower) which is sown in winter blooms in spring. Similarly there are flowers which bloom in the summer time and wither away during autumn.
Analysis: In this stanza, the flower is personified and describes itself as a gentle and kind creation of nature. It compares itself to a “star” that has fallen from the sky (blue tent) onto the earth (green carpet). The flower talks about being born from the elements of nature (earth, water, air, and fire), conceived in winter and born in spring. It grows in summer and rests in autumn. This stanza highlights the natural life cycle of the flower, connecting it to the seasons and elements of nature.
- In this stanza, the flower speaks about its origins.
- It says it is a “kind word” spoken by Nature, symbolizing its connection to the natural world.
- The flower compares itself to a star that falls from the blue sky (blue tent) to the earth (green carpet).
- It talks about how the different seasons are part of its life. Winter is when it is conceived, Spring is when it is born, Summer helps it grow, and Autumn is when it rests.
- The flower represents the cycle of nature and how it is nurtured by all the seasons.
Stanza 2:
“At dawn I unite with the breeze
To announce the coming of light;
At eventide I join the birds
In bidding the light farewell.”
Vocabulary: Dawn: Early morning, when the sun rises; Unite: To come together or join.; Breeze: Light wind; Eventide: Evening, when the sun sets; Bidding farewell: Saying goodbye
Meaning: The fragrance of flowers is spread with the morning breeze. In the evening when the birds fly
back to their nests, the flowers also close up and go to sleep.
Analysis: In this stanza, the flower talks about how it interacts with the breeze in the morning (dawn) to greet the arrival of daylight. In the evening (eventide), it joins the birds in saying goodbye to the day as the sun sets. The flower’s connection to the time of day shows its harmony with nature’s daily rhythms.
- The flower describes how it interacts with nature during different times of the day.
- In the morning (dawn), it joins the breeze to welcome the sunlight.
- In the evening (eventide), it joins the birds to say goodbye to the light as the day ends.
- This stanza highlights the flower’s connection with the natural cycle of day and night.
Stanza 3:
“The plains are decorated with
My beautiful colors, and the air
Is scented with my fragrance.”
Vocabulary: Plains: Large, flat areas of land; Decorated: Made attractive & beautiful; Fragrance: Pleasant smell; Scented: Filled with a smell
Meaning: The poem describes how the plains are made more beautiful by the colourful flowers and the air smells sweet with the scent of flowers. The ‘eyes of night’ refers to the many stars which watch over the flowers and at daytime there is only one eye which is the sun.
Analysis: Here, the flower describes how it brightens up the plains with its vibrant colours and how its fragrance fills the air. This stanza focuses on the beauty and pleasant scent the flower brings to its surroundings, emphasizing the flower’s role in enhancing the natural environment.
- The flower talks about how it adds beauty to the plains with its colours and fills the air with its sweet smell.
- It plays an important role in making nature beautiful and pleasant for all to enjoy.
Stanza 4:
“As I embrace Slumber the eyes of
Night watch over me, and as I
Awaken I stare at the sun, which is
The only eye of the day.”
Vocabulary: Embrace: To hold or accept.; Slumber: Sleep.; Awaken: To wake up.; Stare: To look at something for a long time.
Meaning: As the flower sleeps, Night keeps a watch on it. The ‘eyes of night’ refers to the many stars which
watch over the flowers and at daytime there is only one eye which is the sun.
Analysis: In this stanza, the flower talks about falling asleep at night, under the watch of the “eyes of Night,” which likely represents the moon and stars. In the morning, when it wakes up, it looks towards the sun, described as the “only eye of the day.” This stanza highlights the cycle of sleep and wakefulness, connected to day and night.
- The flower says that when it sleeps (embraces slumber), the night watches over it.
- When it wakes up, it looks at the sun, which it calls “the only eye of the day.”
- This suggests the flower’s close relationship with nature’s rhythms—sleeping during the night and waking up with the sun.
Stanza 5:
“I drink dew for wine, and hearken to
The voices of the birds, and dance
To the rhythmic swaying of the grass.”
Vocabulary: Dew: Water droplets that form on surfaces in the early morning; Hearken: To listen attentively; Swaying: Moving back and forth; Rhythmic: Following a regular pattern or beat; Rhythmic swaying: Gentle, repeated movement, like dancing.
Meaning: The flower enjoys the morning dew as wine and listens to the voices of the birds. It also
dances with the wind as the grass does too.
Analysis: The flower describes its morning routine in this stanza. It drinks dew (morning water drops) as if it were wine, listens to the birds’ singing, and sways along with the grass as if dancing. The flower is portrayed as a joyful, lively part of nature, connected to everything around it.
- The flower describes its simple pleasures in nature.
- It drinks dew (morning moisture on plants) like wine, listens to the birds, and dances along with the movement of the grass.
- This shows how the flower finds joy and beauty in the small things in nature.
Stanza 6:
“I am the lover’s gift; I am the wedding wreath;
I am the memory of a moment of happiness;
I am the last gift of the living to the dead;
I am a part of joy and a part of sorrow.”
Vocabulary: Wreath: A circular arrangement of flowers or leaves used for decoration; Memory: Something remembered from the past; Tribute: An act or gift in honour of someone; Sorrow: Deep sadness or grief.
Meaning: Flowers are often given as tokens of love and affection. It also used a wreath at wedding ceremonies. Flowers are commonly used in funerals and memorials, serving as a final tribute from the living to the deceased. Flowers can be part of joy and celebration and also sad and depressing moments.
Explanation: In this stanza, the flower speaks of its role in various human emotions and occasions. It is given as a gift between lovers, used in wedding ceremonies, remembered in moments of happiness, and offered as a final tribute to the dead. The flower symbolizes both joy and sorrow, showing how it is intertwined with different stages of life.
- The flower talks about its significance in human life.
- It is a symbol of love (lover’s gift), celebration (wedding wreath), and remembrance (the last gift given at funerals).
- It represents both happiness and sadness, being present in moments of joy like weddings and in sorrowful times like death.
- The flower is shown to have deep emotional meaning in human life.
Stanza 7:
“But I look up high to see only the light,
And never look down to see my shadow.
This is wisdom which man must learn.”
Vocabulary: Wisdom: Knowledge gained through experience; Shadow: A dark area caused by blocking light; Light: Can symbolize hope, positivity, or guidance
Meaning: The flower because of the way it grows, only sees the light and cannot look down to see its shadow. The last line adds a deeper level of meaning to the entire piece as the poet, still talking as an embodied flower, states that humankind should learn from its wisdom. One should never look down, but remain perpetually optimistic.
Analysis: The final stanza of the poem expresses a deeper philosophical message. The flower explains that it always looks towards the light (symbolizing positivity or hope) and avoids focusing on its shadow (symbolizing negativity or darkness). The flower suggests that humans should learn this wisdom—to focus on the good and not dwell on the negative aspects of life.
- The flower explains that it always looks up towards the light and doesn’t focus on its shadow (the darker side).
- This is a metaphor for focusing on the positive and not dwelling on negative things.
- The flower suggests that humans should learn this wisdom—to always seek the light (good things) in life and avoid being distracted by negativity or sadness.
