Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

THE DAY OF THE PEONIES, by JOHN CIARDI Poet Analysis Poet's Biography

"The Day of the Peonies" by John Ciardi is a poignant and evocative poem that captures a moment of ephemeral beauty and familial love through the simple, yet profound, act of filling the home with peonies. This poem, rich with imagery and emotion, delves into themes of transience, appreciation, and the sacredness of everyday moments.

The poem opens with a declaration that sets the stage for a special occasion: "This is the day of the peonies." This simple statement immediately elevates the day from the ordinary to the extraordinary, signaling a break from routine to celebrate the beauty of the present moment. The speaker’s daughter, enchanted by the "spell of an abundance that can't last," fills the house with peonies, transforming the space into a sanctuary of beauty and fragrance. This act of filling "every bowl and vase in the house with water" and mounding "the day pink" is a gesture of pure appreciation for the beauty of nature and the joy it brings.

The transformation of the breakfast table into a "flowering altar" imbues the meal with a sense of reverence and sanctity. The comparison of toast and coffee to the "body and blood" of this floral altar not only suggests a communion with nature but also underscores the sacredness of this shared family moment, elevating it beyond the mundane.

The speaker’s decision to reject "The Times" in favor of fully immersing in the beauty of the day further emphasizes the poem’s theme of appreciating the here and now. The deliberate act of throwing the newspaper "to yesterday" is a rejection of the external world's chaos and concerns, choosing instead to focus on the joy and beauty of the present moment.

The shedding of a single petal into the speaker's cup becomes a symbolic gesture, a "pink omen" that represents both the beauty and the transience of life. The speaker's acknowledgment, "I have my good and know it," is a moment of profound realization and gratitude. It reflects an acceptance of life's fleeting nature and a determination to cherish the beauty and love available in the present.

The poem concludes with the speaker drinking "the waft of feasted day," a phrase that captures the essence of savoring the moment. The description of the day as "half holy and half daft" beautifully captures the duality of life—the sacredness of everyday moments and the joyful, almost foolish, abandon with which we should embrace them.

Through "The Day of the Peonies," Ciardi invites readers to reflect on the beauty of life's transient moments and the importance of recognizing and celebrating them. The poem serves as a reminder of the value of simplicity, the importance of being present, and the profound impact of nature's beauty on our lives. It is a call to appreciate the fleeting moments of joy and to find the sacred in the everyday, encouraging us to live fully and with gratitude.

POEM TEXT:

This is the day of the peonies.

My daughter in the spell of an abundance that can't last

filled every bowl and vase in the house with water and mounded the day pink.

When I came to breakfast my transformed toast and coffee were body and blood of the flowering altar.

"The Times shall not intrude on what this is," I read from the intro and threw it to yesterday.

One petal shed into my cup.

"I have my good and know it,"I acknowledged, a service for the dead;

spooned out the pink omen and drank the waft of feasted day, half holy and half daft.