Poetry week #004: Crozier and symbolism

          First, read this poem by Lorna Crozier quickly:

CROSSING WILLOW BRIDGE

 

On the farm a willow bridge

though this is Saltspring Island

not Japan. Sometimes it crosses

water, sometimes not. This morning

after rain the ground slides into mud.

My mother and I tread our way

to see the baby llama

in the far pasture. A black Lab

lopes up the path, doubles back.

All energy and muscle

and too much love, he bumps our legs.

He belongs here, the family pet.

This morning he has more to do

with time, how it runs ahead and keeps

returning, our smell on its muzzle,

along its back. I’m afraid

he’ll knock my mother over.

Suddenly this winter she’s unsteady

on her feet. He runs to her

with a stick, strikes her legs

as if he’s a monk and she

a stubborn student, seventy-six

this year. How little time

we have to love each other.

The black dog will not leave

though I shout No, bang him with my knee

when he jumps up. Our walk becomes

A journey, the dog,

the winter rains coming on.

My mother’s arm in mine, we turn back,

cross the willow bridge. Now

the dog swings round,

gathers everything he is

and flies toward us,

under our feet the water running,

willow branches bending at the sound.

          Sounds like a simple poem, right–a mother and daughter out for a walk with their pet on the family farm? But there is much, much more at work here, largely due to symbolism of different types: 

1. Connotation Connotation is the “feeling,” positive or negative, associated with certain words. For example, “skinny” is a bit negative, while “slender” is a bit positive. Both mean “thin.”

          On first reading, Crozier’s poem certainly doesn’t seem violent in any way…but look back at some of the words she uses: “mud,” “tread,” “bumps,” “unsteady,” “strikes,” and “bang.” When you bring these words closer together, you really see the fear in the daughter’s mind. She’s worried about her mother.

2. Symbols A symbol is usually something concrete (a color, an object) that represents something deeper (a feeling or quality).

          First of all, Crozier uses a dog here to represent time. It’s not a common symbol, so she TELLS us “This morning [the dog] has more to do with time.” But twice we are told the colour of that dog, “a black Lab” and “a black dog.” Black almost always symbolizes death, and here, their smell is on the muzzle of the black dog; it’s hunting them. Add this to the negative connotation we’ve seen in other words, and the poem takes on a more ominous feeling. The dog becomes the Grim Reaper who’s going after the mother. Who’s able to fight it off? The younger daughter.

          Of course the willow is a symbol itself. In the East, the willow is a sign of life, since it needs to be near a large water source and its branches shelter, provide protection. In North America, mention “willow,” and people think of one variety: “weeping willow.” Crying. So now we have life and death and violent attacks and crying. See where this simple poem is headed? But there’s more…

3. Allusion An allusion is a reference to a well-known person or event to describe something or someone not as well-known.

          Here, “crossing over” brings to mind “crossing the river Styx,” a bit of mythology that speaks of leaving this life for the next, for the “far pasture.” It, too speaks of death, as does winter, as in “the winter rains coming on.”

          Now, there is much, much more to this poem, but even what I’ve noted here adds up to a theme that Crozier states directly in the poem: “How little time we have to love each other.” Value the time you have together with loved ones; you never know when that time may come to an end. Maybe the daughter here is back for a visit or is back to help take care of her aging mother. She might be repairing a relationship as well, making use of the little time they have left together. All of a sudden, a simple poem becomes much deeper, largely through the use of symbolism.

Try this:

Start with a theme–even use the one Crozier mentions here if you like. Then think of any colour symbolism, connotative language (especially verbs!), or allusions you might use to create the mood you’re aiming for. A simple narrative will become much deeper. Give it a go and let me know what you come up with!

Coming tomorrow: Checkup on today with a new poem, “My Father’s Hand.”