Analysis of “Sunflower Sutra” and “Ah! Sun-Flower” Poems
Thesis Statement
The negative actions of human beings have solicited a lot of opinions in an attempt to solve them. While leaving this existence may be one way of dealing with this problem, solving these problems head-on is another alternative. These two poems offer exciting perspectives on how to react and deal with problems.
Summary and Analysis
The poem Sunflower Sutra was written in 1955 by Allen Ginsberg during his brief time in Berkeley, California. It is an intense portrayal of the American landscape, which has been destroyed by the careless work of the existing modern society. Although the poem starts on a negative description, it ends by offering a glimmer of hope. Ginsberg ends the poem by asserting that he will preach a ‘sermon’ of light to those who see the despair in their lives and country, “Sunflower Sutra by Allen Ginsberg | Poetry Foundation” (2020)
This poem narrates some of the unfortunate implications resulting due to the modernized society of America. The author profoundly reflects on the American beauty, which was lost due to some of the unfortunate incidents and carelessness of the modern world that result from the modernized society of America. The author also inspires hope in the mind of the reader, who reminds us that the Sunflower is an embodiment of the nation that will not be tarnished, but rather continues to shine on like it’s supposed to be.
On the other hand, the poem, Ah! Sun-flower was written by William Blake, in which he speaks about the journey of life and the afterlife. In the first stanza of this poem, Blake speaks and presents vividly some of the features which embody a higher level of life. Herein,
“Ah, Sun-flower! weary of time,
Who countest the steps of the Sun:
Seeking after that sweet golden clime
Where the traveler’s journey is done.”
The poem is complicated. On the surface, the ordinary reader might ascribe the read to that of a sunflower; however, a deep introspection reveals that the poem speaks about issues related to present realities of life, life after death, and the human imagination. In this poem, the flower acts as an allegory of a human being, and more specifically, a traveler. This traveler is seemingly tired of life and living, and wish for something more out of life. This is portrayed in the form of an afterlife journey, in which the readers are also associated with a world of imagination in which the reader can visualize and actualize their highest aspirations. The author portrays this journey (into the afterlife) as one in which all human beings should aspire to, because this will enable them to escape from the painful realities of the present life, “Ah! Sunflower by William Blake | Poetry Foundation” (2020)
Comparison
The two poems are very similar in several ways. First, they have used the imagery and symbol of a sunflower, which in either case has been used to explain a great revelation or realization. In the first poem, the Sunflower has been used to represent the Sunflower as an object of spiritual enlightenment, and a way of understanding a person’s true nature. In the second poem, the Sunflower has been used to symbolize and accentuate the relationship between innocence and experience. While Ginsberg has used the flower to symbolize a path to the knowledge and understanding of self. Blake has emphasized the flower as a movement from naivety to experience. However, in both instances, the Sunflower has been used as a means to explain an epiphany. This is perfectly exemplified in the last paragraph of Blake’s poem,
“And the pale Virgin shrouded in snow:
Arise from their graves and aspire,
Where my Sunflower wishes to go.”
In this instance, the imagery of the Sunflower is tied to that of a man who is on the journey of life and self-discovery. From his portrayal of the story, and the journey of the ‘sunflower’, the reader is met with the realization that “…whilst the human experience might seem brutal, we should still arise from the grave and find a better life for ourselves.” On the other hand, Ginsberg, in his poem, has also used the Sunflower as an epiphany; that while America has been tarnished and destroyed, it can still become beautiful again. In fact, for this poem, the Sunflower is perceived to hold a certain beauty to it, and that this beauty can only shine forth if people can understand it as such.
“…And you Locomotive, you are a locomotive, forget me not!
So I grabbed up the thick skeleton sunflower and stuck it at my side like a scepter,
and deliver my sermon to my soul, and Jack’s soul too, and anyone who’ll listen,
—We’re not our skin of grime; we’re not dread bleak, dusty imageless locomotives, we’re golden sunflowers inside, blessed by our own seed & hairy naked accomplishment-bodies growing into mad black formal sunflowers in the sunset, spied on by our own eyes under the shadow of the mad locomotive riverbank sunset Frisco hilly tincan evening sitdown vision.”
In this case, there is hope for a better life despite the grim appearances. In both poems, the authors give the promise of a better life, as evidenced by the case of the Sunflower, despite the evident challenges.
Differences
While Blake’s poem, Ah! Sun-flower is weary and understanding of the concept of time, Ginsberg’s is not. Blake mentions that the Sunflower is “weary of time,” thereby suggesting that it could be weary of the entire concept and process of life and death, while longing for some form of constancy and stability. On the other hand, Ginsberg’s poem, Sunflower Sutra, is very different and focuses on the destruction and degradation of America. While Ginsberg focuses on earthly things (America and its continuous destruction), Blake focuses on supernatural things (the concept of life and death).
Moreover, in Blake’s poem, a constant sense of longing is highlighted in this poem, while the same is not true for Ginsberg’s poetry. Blake depicts in his poem that he is always longing for something beyond the existing realm of life, and the seeming desire to abandon everything for the sake of this new life. In his poem, everything, even the Sunflower, wants to leave reality for the sake of that new reality. He proposes that we should continuously search for that new life, rather than being tied to the present world. On the other hand, Ginsberg does not express any desire for a new life, even though he acknowledges the challenges that America faces in his poem. Instead, Ginsberg only offers hope, of what an America without destruction would be like.
Conclusion
The two poems are remarkable pieces, and exemplifications of the use of imagery and symbolism to describe and offer solutions to some of the problems facing society. While Blake proposes to escape into the afterlife as the best solution, Ginsberg proposes addressing the problems head-on as the best solution. Either way, their poems offered remarkable perspectives on life.
References
Sunflower Sutra by Allen Ginsberg | Poetry Foundation. (2020). Retrieved 22 February 2020, from https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/49304/sunflower-sutra
Ah! Sunflower by William Blake | Poetry Foundation. (2020). Retrieved 22 February 2020, from https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43649/ah-sun-flower