Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anthony Hecht's "Behold the Lilies of the Field" is a haunting meditation on memory, trauma, and the loss of honor. The poem juxtaposes the beauty and tranquility of flowers with the brutal and dehumanizing experiences of the Roman Emperor Valerian during his capture and torture. This contrast amplifies the poem's exploration of innocence and corruption, gentleness and cruelty, and the profound psychological impact of witnessing and surviving extreme violence.

The poem begins with a seemingly simple and calm scene: the speaker looking at flowers in a glass bowl. The flowers, described as either narcissus or jonquils, symbolize purity and beauty. This serenity is immediately contrasted with the speaker's recollection of giving flowers to his mother, which elicits a mechanical, insincere response. The mother's lack of genuine pleasure in receiving the flowers hints at a deeper emotional disconnection and dishonesty in their relationship.

The speaker's reflections quickly shift from personal memory to a broader contemplation of honesty and honor. The anecdote about the mother's insincerity leads to a harsh assessment of her character, suggesting a loss of honor that resonates with the larger theme of the poem. This theme is further developed through the chilling account of Emperor Valerian's capture and torture by the Persians.

The narrative of Valerian's suffering is detailed and visceral, emphasizing the systematic and prolonged nature of his humiliation and pain. The emperor is stripped, collared, and displayed in a cage made from captured Roman spears. He is subjected to repeated floggings and forced to serve as a mounting block and throne for the barbarian king. These acts of degradation are not only physical but also deeply symbolic, representing the complete subjugation and dehumanization of a once powerful ruler.

The poem's imagery becomes increasingly graphic as it describes Valerian's final torture. The slow flaying of his body, conducted with surgical precision, is depicted in excruciating detail. The transformation of his skin into a grotesque doll, used as an educational tool for young girls, underscores the barbarity and ultimate desecration of his humanity. The vividness of this imagery serves to highlight the extremity of Valerian's suffering and the total annihilation of his dignity.

The speaker's personal connection to this historical atrocity is revealed in the final stanzas. He was one of the captives forced to witness Valerian's torment, and his eventual ransom by his mother brings the narrative full circle. The poem ends with the speaker expressing a longing to be like the flowers he observes, a wish for the peace and purity that contrasts so starkly with the horrors he has endured and witnessed.

Hecht's "Behold the Lilies of the Field" thus weaves together personal and historical narratives to explore themes of honor, memory, and trauma. The poem's intricate structure and vivid imagery create a powerful and disturbing reflection on the capacity for human cruelty and the enduring impact of witnessing such acts. Through the juxtaposition of the serene beauty of flowers and the brutal reality of Valerian's torture, Hecht invites readers to contemplate the fragile boundaries between innocence and corruption, and the profound psychological scars left by violence.

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