‘Plants’ by Olive Senior is a unique free verse poem describing plants’ deceptiveness. It uses irony and humor to suggest that plants are trying to take over the world.
Throughout this piece, Senior employs several unique images and clever, humorous reasoning in order to convince the reader that plants are far smarter than they seem. They are working together, she suggests, in order to eventually take over the world. They’ve been here forever and will, she says, be here after humanity is long since gone.
Summary
‘Plants’ by Olive Senior explores the deceptive nature of plants. They seem one way, but, in reality, they’re very different.
Through specific examples of mangroves on the march and seeds utilizing various dispersal methods, Senior portrays plants as cunning conquerors, always one step ahead of humans.
Even the beauty and allure of flowers serve as tools to entice creatures for their reproductive benefit. The poem concludes with a reflection on plants’ enduring power and their ability to outlast humanity with their extravagant and relentless propagation, making them the ultimate survivors in the natural world.
Structure and Form
‘Plants’ by Olive Senior is a free verse poem that is divided into nine stanzas. These stanzas are formatted as quatrains or sets of four lines. The poet chose not to use a specific rhyme scheme or metrical pattern in this piece, opting instead to use words at the ends of lines that are quite different from one another. For example, in the first stanza, the poet uses “there,” “know,” “us,” and “traces.”
Literary Devices
In this poem, the poet makes use of a few different literary devices. For example:
- Caesura: occurs when the poet inserts a pause into the middle of a line of verse. For example, “Plants are deceptive. You see them there.”
- Personification: can be seen when the poet imbues something non-human with human characteristics. For example, throughout this piece, the poet implies that plants are scheming and working against humanity.
- Imagery: The poem is filled with examples of images that help to create visual and sensory experiences. For instance, the lines “armies of mangrove / on the march, roots in the air, clinging / tendrils anchoring themselves everywhere” paint a vivid picture of the tenacity and growth of plants.
Detailed Analysis
Stanzas One and Two
Plants are deceptive. You see them there
(…)
always running around, leaving traces.
Yet from the way they breed (excuse me!)
(…)
a sinister not to say imperialistic
In the first stanza of this contemporary poem, the poet highlights the deceptive nature of plants. While they may seem rooted and stationary, unlike animals always on the move, plants hold a mysterious quality. The poet makes sure to point out a contrast between the seemingly fixed nature of plants and the dynamic behavior of animals.
As the poem progresses, the poet describes how the plants “breed” and grow exponentially and compares it, implicitly, to the way that animals do. Senior portrays plants as strategic beings, intertwining with their surroundings and openly showcasing their prolific nature. This portrayal raises questions about their true intentions.
Readers should be able to note the poet’s use of words like “sinister” and “imperialistic” and infer that he’s going to be painting the plants in a negative light. They have a secretive nature that’s not usually noted.
Stanzas Three and Four
grand design. Perhaps you’ve regarded,
(…)
tendrils anchoring themselves everywhere?
The world is full of shoots bent on conquest,
(…)
in capsules and seed cases.
In the third stanza, the poet implies that the plants have an “imperialistic… / grand design.” They are working towards something “sinister” in nature. The mangroves are depicted as determined and purposeful, with their “roots in the air” and “clinging tendrils” reaching out to anchor themselves everywhere.
This imagery portrays the plants as formidable and organized forces, capable of extending their influence far and wide, something that human beings (the poet thinks) should be worried about.
In the next lines, Senior describes the world as full of ambitious shoots and invasive seedlings. These young and determined plants are on a conquest, seeking to occupy “wide open spaces.” The poet also uses examples of militaristic language in these lines, they are “bent on conquest” and “gathered for explosive dispersal / in capsules and seed cases.” This language suggests that the plants are gearing up, with weapons, for a fight.
They appear to have a master plan to take over the world, propagating endlessly until there is nothing left that is not plant life.
Stanzas Five and Six
Maybe you haven’t quite taken in the
(…)
bobbing on ocean, parachuting seeds and other
airborne traffic dropping in. And what
(…)
insects, bats, birds, bees, even you –
In the fifth stanza of this poem, the poet presents some more evidence of the plants’ scheming. She tries to draw the reader’s attention to the methods plants use to disperse their seeds around the world. She describes hitchhiking burrs on clothing, nuts surfing on ocean waves, and seeds parachuting through the air.
This portrayal emphasizes how plants have evolved unique and resourceful ways to spread their offspring far and wide, taking advantage of various modes of transportation.
The poet also notes that flowers are purposefully adorned, perfumed, and “made-up” to attract and entice various creatures, including insects, bats, birds, bees, and even humans (“even you”). They’re meant to trick you, and the poet is suggesting convincing you to take them into your home and allow them to grow in your gardens.
Stanzas Seven and Eight
– don’t deny it my dear, I’ve seen you
(…)
more than ovary, the instrument to seduce
you into scattering plant progeny. Part of
(…)
become plant food and earth wind down.
In the seventh stanza, the poet addresses someone specific. This is someone she calls “dear,” suggesting that she knows them and cares about them. This person, the poet says, he’s seen sniffing and enjoying flowers. She also indicates that “you” may not be aware of the true purpose behind the fruit’s appeal.
The poet then proceeds to reveal the true nature of the sweet fruit and berry. Rather than being solely a delightful treat, the fruit is described as “nothing more than ovary,” highlighting its reproductive function in the plant’s life cycle. The fruit, through its alluring taste and appearance, becomes an “instrument to seduce” the reader, animals, or birds into consuming it.
By consuming the fruit, the reader unknowingly aids in the dispersal of the plant’s progeny. The seeds within the fruit pass through the digestive system and are excreted elsewhere, providing an opportunity for the seeds to grow in new locations. This process is part of a larger “vast cosmic program” in which plants have evolved various strategies to ensure their survival and expansion.
Stanza Nine
They’ll outlast us, they were always there
(…)
extravagant, reckless, improvident, weed.
In the final and ninth stanza of the poem, the poet concludes by saying that the plants are certainly going to “outlast us.” They were always there, meaning they were always on earth and always one step ahead of humanity.
The use of the term “weed” is interesting here. In a horticultural context, a weed is often considered undesirable or invasive. However, in this context, it may carry a more neutral connotation, simply referring to the resilience and persistence of plants in general. It could also be hoping to inspire the reader to see plants in a new light, as something dangerous.
FAQs
The theme of this poem is the power of nature. The poem explores how plants, despite their seemingly stationary and unassuming appearance, employ various cunning methods to spread their offspring and colonize diverse environments.
The tone is playful and humorous. This is seen in the use of phrases like “excuse me!” and “don’t deny it my dear, I’ve seen you / sniff and exclaim.” This light-hearted approach engages the reader and adds a touch of irony to the serious subject matter.
The poem should inspire readers to reflect on the relationship between humans and the natural world. The poet encourages readers to observe and appreciate the often-overlooked behaviors of plants.
‘Plants’ is a free verse, humorous and ironic poem that does not follow a specific rhyme scheme, meter, or pattern. But, the poem is consistently formatted in quatrains for four-line stanzas.
Similar Poetry
Readers who enjoyed this poem should also consider reading some other related poems. For example:
- ‘Plant a Tree’ by Lucy Larcom – is a nature and religion-themed poem that speaks about the benefits of planting trees.
- ‘The Mushroom is the Elf of Plants-’ by Emily Dickinson – depicts the mushroom and its fleeting life, and personifies it alongside Nature.
- ‘Old Man’ by Edward Thomas – is a thoughtful piece about the loss of memory and a disconnect to one’s past.
