Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Linda Pastan's poem "Espaliered Pear Trees" reflects on the intersection of beauty, control, and the natural world, exploring the ways in which humans shape and manipulate nature in the pursuit of aesthetic ideals. The poem meditates on the cost of this control, both in terms of the pain it inflicts on nature and the underlying existential implications for the human beings who impose it.

The poem opens with the striking image of pear trees being "tack[ed]...to the wall in a mime of crucifixion." This metaphor immediately evokes a sense of violence and sacrifice, suggesting that the act of espaliering the trees—training them to grow flat against a wall—resembles the crucifixion, a symbol of suffering and imposed submission. The limbs of the trees are "splayed flat," their "leafed backs toward us," which emphasizes the unnatural positioning of the trees, as if they have been forced into an uncomfortable, submissive posture. The act of watering them with a hose, something that should be nurturing, takes on a mechanical and detached quality in this context, further highlighting the tension between care and control.

Pastan contrasts this image with the mention of bonsai, another form of human intervention in nature, where the speaker recalls the trees being described as "living haiku." Bonsai trees, with their miniature, meticulously maintained forms, are seen as an embodiment of artistic expression and restraint. However, the speaker notes that their branches are pruned "as ruthlessly / as you would your nails," equating the act of pruning with a casual, almost indifferent violence. The image of paring nails, an everyday, mundane activity, underscores the ease with which this control is exerted, contrasting with the intricate and delicate nature of the bonsai trees themselves.

The poem then introduces a darker historical reference, as the speaker compares the pruning of the bonsai to "Chinese women tottering / on their bound feet." Foot binding, a practice historically used to achieve a particular standard of beauty, is invoked here to illustrate the physical and psychological pain that can accompany the pursuit of aesthetic ideals. The comparison deepens the poem's exploration of the relationship between beauty and suffering, suggesting that the manipulation of nature for beauty's sake can mirror the ways in which human bodies have been controlled and altered in the name of societal norms.

In the garden, where the speaker and the person they address kneel "on the resilient ground," there is a sense of humility and connection to the earth. The phrase "trying to befriend the soil we must become" touches on the inevitability of death and decay, reminding the reader that, despite our efforts to control and shape nature, we are ultimately a part of it, destined to return to the soil ourselves. This line adds a layer of existential reflection to the poem, acknowledging the transient nature of both life and the beauty we seek to impose on the world around us.

The poem's reflection on Eden, with the observation that "Long after Eden, the imagination flourishes with all its unruly weeds," suggests that the human drive to create, control, and beautify has persisted long after the fall from paradise. The "unruly weeds" symbolize both the uncontrolled aspects of nature and the wild, untamed impulses of human creativity that resist strict control and order. These weeds are part of the imagination's fertile ground, flourishing in the spaces where order gives way to chaos.

The poem concludes with the speaker's personal longing: "I dream of the fleeting taste of pears." This simple, sensuous image contrasts with the earlier emphasis on control and manipulation. The taste of pears is fleeting, ephemeral, and tied to the natural cycle of growth and decay, reminding the speaker of the transient pleasures that nature offers without the need for human intervention. It is a moment of desire for something pure, natural, and unmediated—a yearning for a connection with nature that is untainted by the imposition of human will.

In "Espaliered Pear Trees," Linda Pastan explores the complex relationship between beauty, control, and nature, using vivid imagery and historical references to underscore the tension between nurturing and dominating the natural world. The poem reflects on the cost of imposing human ideals on nature, both for the living things we shape and for ourselves as we grapple with our own mortality and the fleeting nature of beauty and life. Through its contemplative tone and rich symbolism, the poem invites readers to consider the ways in which we engage with the natural world and the deeper implications of our desire to shape and control it.

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