Critical Overview
Dr Harmony Volta-Wright *
Blackwood-Marlowe Institute for Literary Arts
Wildness and Desire: An Exploration of Natural Anarchy in Contemporary Garden Poetry
This contemporary poem offers a fascinating juxtaposition between untamed nature and human desire, presenting the garden not as a domesticated space but as a realm of beautiful chaos. The poet establishes an immediate tension through the declaration of a garden that is simultaneously “restless” and “free”, grounding this natural space in principles of anarchy rather than order. This subversive approach to garden imagery challenges traditional pastoral representations.
Throughout the work, the botanical imagery evolves from threatening elements – nettles, thistles, and thorns – to more sensual manifestations that facilitate human connection. The poetic structure mirrors this transformation, beginning with shorter, declarative lines before expanding into more lyrical passages that reflect the growing romantic tension between the subjects. The recurring invitation to “walk together” establishes the garden as a liminal space where human relationships can flourish amid wild flora.
The ecological themes evident in references to bees, trees, and loamy soil are intertwined with romantic elements, suggesting that human passion is merely another natural force within this anarchic ecosystem. Particularly notable is the poet’s skillful use of sensory language that evokes both the physical textures of the garden and the emotional landscape of the encounter. The “rustled trance” of leaves and the sting of bees introduce elements of environmental risk that parallel the vulnerability inherent in intimate relationships.
In its final stanza, the poem accelerates toward a conclusion where the boundaries between the human and natural worlds dissolve completely. The invitation to “grow wild” and “dance” positions human passion as an extension of the garden’s inherent wildness. This contemporary nature poem ultimately presents romance not as something cultivated or manicured, but as something that thrives precisely because it follows the unpredictable, sometimes dangerous patterns of natural growth. The eiderdown – the only manufactured element mentioned – becomes symbolic of the thin barrier between civilisation and wilderness that the poem seeks to traverse.
The work stands as a significant contribution to modern pastoral poetry, reimagining the garden not as a symbol of human dominion over nature but as a testament to the enduring power of natural chaos and its profound connections to human emotion. Through its exploration of a garden aesthetic rooted in anarchy rather than order, the poem offers readers a refreshing perspective on both environmental poetry and the poetic tradition of using natural settings as backdrops for human desire.
