Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Dora Greenwell’s "A Scherzo (A Shy Person';s Wishes)" is a whimsical yet introspective poem that captures the desires of a shy individual yearning for solitude and escape. The speaker seeks to be in places and states of being that are hidden, safe, and free from the constraints of social interaction. Through vivid natural imagery, Greenwell creates a world where the speaker longs to retreat into nature’s quiet, unnoticed spaces, away from human presence and the pressures of the outside world. The poem, while light in tone, expresses a deep, poignant wish for peace, autonomy, and anonymity.

The opening image—"With the wasp at the innermost heart of a peach"—immediately transports the reader to a small, secluded space in nature. The wasp, hidden within the fruit’s core, is beyond reach, safe and undisturbed. This image of being out of "tip-toe reach" introduces the theme of seclusion, which permeates the poem. The speaker’s desire is to be like the wasp, tucked away in a place that is difficult to access, a place of safety and privacy. The repeated use of "with" in the opening lines creates a sense of alignment between the speaker and the natural world, suggesting that the speaker longs to be part of these hidden, unnoticed realms.

The poem continues to build on this theme by invoking other elements of nature that embody quietness and seclusion. The trout in the "darkest summer pool" and the fern-seed "clinging behind its cool / Smooth frond" represent life that thrives in concealed, shadowy spaces. Each of these images, whether the mouse in its "furrow old" or the chrysalis "wrapt in its gauzy fold," underscores the speaker';s desire for safety, stillness, and retreat. These natural entities are all hidden from sight, safe in their own secret worlds, and they symbolize the speaker’s wish to escape from the demands and intrusions of the external world.

Greenwell contrasts things that are hidden with things that are bold, yet both states appeal to the speaker. The speaker desires to be "With things that are hidden, and safe, and bold," blending the characteristics of strength and invisibility. In this line, the speaker’s wish to remain unnoticed does not come from fear, but from a desire for autonomy and control. The things that are "timid, and shy, and free" reflect the speaker’s own temperament—someone who is cautious yet longs for freedom.

The next set of images continues to explore this tension between stillness and quiet energy. The speaker wishes to be like the nut in its shell or the seed in its pod, secure and waiting for the right time to grow. The "corn as it sprouts in the kindly clod" evokes a sense of peaceful potential, a slow and quiet emergence into life. The speaker also identifies with things "rooted, and firm, and deep," suggesting a wish for stability, for a life that is grounded and undisturbed. At the same time, the speaker desires the opposite: to be "chainless, and tameless, and proud," associating with the raw power of natural forces like the "fire in the jagged thunder-cloud" and the wind in its waking.

In these lines, Greenwell skillfully balances the speaker’s dual desires for safety and freedom. While the speaker longs for quiet and seclusion, there is also a yearning to be part of something powerful and untamed, like the wind or the elements that form a rainbow. This push and pull between the desire for rootedness and the wish for wildness adds depth to the speaker’s inner world.

As the poem progresses, the speaker’s desire for escape becomes more urgent. They wish to be "far up on the hills, where no foot surprises / The dew as it falls, or the dust as it rises," evoking a place where they can exist without being disturbed by human activity. The speaker';s wish to be with "the beast in its torrid lair" or "drifting on ice with the polar bear" suggests a longing to be in extreme environments, places where human presence is minimal or nonexistent.

The final lines—"With the weaver at work at his quiet loom; / Anywhere, anywhere, out of this room!"—bring the poem’s focus back to the speaker’s immediate reality. The repetition of "anywhere, anywhere" conveys a sense of desperation, as if the speaker feels trapped and needs to escape. The image of the weaver at his loom suggests a quiet, focused solitude, contrasting with the speaker’s present situation, which feels confining. The room represents the constraints of society, expectations, or perhaps even the weight of being observed by others.

In "A Scherzo (A Shy Person';s Wishes)," Greenwell captures the internal landscape of a shy individual who longs for freedom, peace, and solitude in the natural world. The poem';s imagery beautifully reflects the speaker’s yearning for spaces where they can be hidden, free, and untouched by the demands of social interaction. Through this rich and imaginative portrayal, Greenwell speaks to a universal desire for retreat and the quiet joy of being alone with oneself in harmony with nature.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...