Question
From blossoms comes
this brown paper bag of peaches
we bought from the boy
at the bend in the road where we turned toward
signs painted Peaches.
From laden boughs, from hands,
from sweet fellowship in the bins,
comes nectar at the roadside, succulent
peaches we devour, dusty skin and all,
comes the familiar dust of summer, dust we eat.
O, to take what we love inside,
to carry within us an orchard, to eat
not only the skin, but the shade,
not only the sugar, but the days, to hold
the fruit in our hands, adore it, then bite into
the round jubilance of peach.
There are days we live
as if death were nowhere
in the background; from joy
to joy to joy, from wing to wing,
from blossom to blossom to
impossible blossom, to sweet impossible blossom.
Li-Young Lee, "From Blossoms," from Rose. Copyright © 1986 by Li-Young Lee. Used with the permission of The Permissions Company, Inc., on behalf of BOA Editions, Ltd., www.boaeditions.org.
Unless otherwise noted, this content is licensed under theCC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license
Notes
AllDefinitionsFootnotes
loaded with something heavy, carrying a lot of weight
a main branch of a tree
Fellowship (noun) : the company of equals or friends
Succulent (adjective) : juicy flavor, full of juice
great joy, triumph, or satisfaction
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Assessment Questions
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How does the final stanza contribute to the development of the poem's theme?
this brown paper bag of peaches
we bought from the boy
at the bend in the road where we turned toward
signs painted Peaches.
From laden boughs, from hands,
from sweet fellowship in the bins,
comes nectar at the roadside, succulent
peaches we devour, dusty skin and all,
comes the familiar dust of summer, dust we eat.
O, to take what we love inside,
to carry within us an orchard, to eat
not only the skin, but the shade,
not only the sugar, but the days, to hold
the fruit in our hands, adore it, then bite into
the round jubilance of peach.
There are days we live
as if death were nowhere
in the background; from joy
to joy to joy, from wing to wing,
from blossom to blossom to
impossible blossom, to sweet impossible blossom.
Li-Young Lee, "From Blossoms," from Rose. Copyright © 1986 by Li-Young Lee. Used with the permission of The Permissions Company, Inc., on behalf of BOA Editions, Ltd., www.boaeditions.org.
Unless otherwise noted, this content is licensed under theCC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license
Notes
AllDefinitionsFootnotes
loaded with something heavy, carrying a lot of weight
a main branch of a tree
Fellowship (noun) : the company of equals or friends
Succulent (adjective) : juicy flavor, full of juice
great joy, triumph, or satisfaction
Read Aloud
Annotate
Translate
Assessment Questions
Show Less
1
2
3
4
5
How does the final stanza contribute to the development of the poem's theme?
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The final stanza of Li-Young Lee's poem "From Blossoms" serves to encapsulate the theme of the poem, which revolves around the celebration of life, joy, and the deep connection between the natural world and human experience. Here's how the final stanza contributes to this theme:
1. **Living in the Moment**: The lines "There are days we live / as if death were nowhere / in the background" emphasize a transient, joyful experience of life. It highlights the theme of savoring the present moment and appreciating the beauty of life, which is a prevalent motif throughout the poem.
2. **Cycle of Joy**: The repetition of "from joy / to joy to joy" suggests an ongoing cycle of happiness and fulfillment that one derives from life's simple pleasures. This continuity of joy mirrors the cyclical nature of seasons and the fruit-bearing aspects of nature, reinforcing that joy can be found in the act of living itself.
3. **Imagery of Blossoms**: The phrase "from blossom to blossom" evokes the idea of growth and potential. Blossoms represent new beginnings and beauty, which aligns with the theme of nurturing relationships and experiences. The word “impossible” injects a sense of wonder and amazement at the beauty of life, suggesting that there are always more joys to discover.
4. **Contrast with Mortality**: By placing joy and the experience of life in direct contrast to the idea of death, the stanza underscores the importance of cherishing what we have while we have it. This can lead to a deeper appreciation for life and its fleeting moments, a vital element of the poem's overall message.
5. **Unity of Experience**: The stanza culminates in the idea of shared experiences ("from wing to wing"), which suggests interconnectedness among people and their experiences of joy. This connection reinforces the poem's theme that life, in all its sweetness and richness (symbolized by the peach), should be embraced and celebrated.
In summary, the final stanza heightens the poem's thematic development of celebrating life's ephemeral beauty and joy, encouraging readers to revel in the present moment while acknowledging the inevitability of death in the background.
1. **Living in the Moment**: The lines "There are days we live / as if death were nowhere / in the background" emphasize a transient, joyful experience of life. It highlights the theme of savoring the present moment and appreciating the beauty of life, which is a prevalent motif throughout the poem.
2. **Cycle of Joy**: The repetition of "from joy / to joy to joy" suggests an ongoing cycle of happiness and fulfillment that one derives from life's simple pleasures. This continuity of joy mirrors the cyclical nature of seasons and the fruit-bearing aspects of nature, reinforcing that joy can be found in the act of living itself.
3. **Imagery of Blossoms**: The phrase "from blossom to blossom" evokes the idea of growth and potential. Blossoms represent new beginnings and beauty, which aligns with the theme of nurturing relationships and experiences. The word “impossible” injects a sense of wonder and amazement at the beauty of life, suggesting that there are always more joys to discover.
4. **Contrast with Mortality**: By placing joy and the experience of life in direct contrast to the idea of death, the stanza underscores the importance of cherishing what we have while we have it. This can lead to a deeper appreciation for life and its fleeting moments, a vital element of the poem's overall message.
5. **Unity of Experience**: The stanza culminates in the idea of shared experiences ("from wing to wing"), which suggests interconnectedness among people and their experiences of joy. This connection reinforces the poem's theme that life, in all its sweetness and richness (symbolized by the peach), should be embraced and celebrated.
In summary, the final stanza heightens the poem's thematic development of celebrating life's ephemeral beauty and joy, encouraging readers to revel in the present moment while acknowledging the inevitability of death in the background.