Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Carolyn Kizer's poem "Pro Femina: Four. Fanny" presents an evocative and detailed narrative of a woman’s life in Samoa, capturing the struggles, triumphs, and everyday moments of her existence. The poem, written as a journal or diary entry, explores themes of displacement, resilience, and the intersection of personal and historical events.

The poem opens with Fanny's immediate immersion in the daily work of planting and organizing in her new environment: "At Samoa, hardly unpacked, I commenced planting, / When I’d opened the chicken crates, built the Cochins a coop." This sets the tone for her relentless dedication and hard work, a theme that runs throughout the poem.

Fanny's interactions with others, such as the Reverend Mr. Claxton, reveal her determination and the physical toll of her efforts: "The Reverend Mr. Claxton called, found me covered with mud, / My clothes torn, my hair in a wad, my bare feet bleeding." Despite these hardships, Fanny remains focused on her planting and survival tasks, highlighting her resilience.

The poem delves into the practical aspects of Fanny's life, detailing the various crops she plants and the challenges she faces: "I had brought sweet coconut seed from Savage Island. / I planted kidney potatoes in small earthen hills. / Sowed seeds of eggplant in numerous boxes of soil." These lines emphasize her ingenuity and adaptability in a foreign land.

Fanny's relationship with Louis, presumably Robert Louis Stevenson, adds a personal dimension to the narrative. His dismissive comment—"Louis has called me a peasant. How I brooded!"—and her subsequent reflection, "Peasant because I delve in the earth, the earth I own," highlight the tension between her labor and his literary pursuits. Her hurt and subsequent healing through planting reveal her complex emotions and identity as both a caretaker and creator.

The poem also touches on the broader political and social context of Samoa, including the colonial presence and local conflicts: "How the great powers combine to carve up these islands." Fanny’s planting and nurturing efforts stand in stark contrast to the political machinations and turmoil surrounding her.

Kizer captures the sensory and emotional richness of Fanny's experiences through vivid imagery: "I discovered the ylang-ylang tree: a base for perfume, / Though it suggested to me the odor of boots." The mix of beauty and harshness in her environment mirrors Fanny’s internal struggles and determination.

The diary format allows for intimate glimpses into Fanny's thoughts and feelings, including her frustrations and moments of reflection: "My vanity, like a newly felled tree, lies prone and bleeding. / I clear the weeds near the house for planting maize." Her work in the garden serves as both a physical and emotional outlet, providing solace and a sense of purpose.

As the poem progresses, the weight of Fanny's responsibilities and the toll on her health become evident: "All fall I am cursed with asthma, rheumatics, a painful ear." Despite these challenges, she continues her planting and caretaking, embodying resilience and dedication.

The climax of the poem arrives with the death of Louis, a moment of profound loss and transition for Fanny: "He was never conscious again. In two hours he died." The chiefs' preparations for his burial and Fanny’s determination to leave Samoa capture the depth of her grief and the end of an era in her life.

In the final lines, Fanny reflects on her future, vowing to continue planting but with a sense of loss and resignation: "I will have pretty gardens wherever I am, / But never breadfruit, custard apples, grenadilla, cacao." The repetition of "never" underscores her acknowledgment of the changes in her life and the end of a chapter marked by planting and nurturing in Samoa.

"Pro Femina: Four. Fanny" by Carolyn Kizer is a richly detailed and emotionally resonant poem that captures the life of a resilient woman in a foreign land. Through vivid imagery and a deeply personal narrative, Kizer explores themes of displacement, resilience, and the intersection of personal and historical events, creating a powerful portrait of Fanny's life and legacy.