Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Rachel Hadas’s “Humble Herb is Rival to Prozac” is a poignant and reflective poem that interweaves personal memory with the healing power of nature, specifically Saint John’s Wort. The poem, dedicated to the memory of Hadas’s mother, explores themes of loss, remembrance, and the continuity of life through the natural world.

The poem begins with an anecdote from “Science Tuesday,” capturing the speaker’s attention: “An item in Science Tuesday happens to catch my eye.” The anecdote describes a woman in Germany who finds relief from her fears by drinking tea made from Saint John’s Wort. This contemporary reference serves as a bridge to the speaker’s past, triggering a flood of memories associated with the plant and her mother.

Hadas vividly describes a childhood memory of pressing wildflowers into a notebook, an activity guided by her mother. The imagery of “elderly / Scotch tape” and “still bulky flower after flower” evokes the passage of time and the fragility of these preserved moments. The pressed flowers, though discolored and brittle with age, symbolize the enduring impact of her mother’s teachings and the connection to nature they shared.

The specific mention of various flowers—“buttercup, clover, yarrow,” and “St. John’s Wort”—adds a botanical richness to the poem. Each flower represents a piece of the past, carefully labeled and stored away, much like the memories the speaker holds. The tactile details of the flowers “taped into the pages of a smallish spiral notebook” and their gradual disintegration underscore the themes of preservation and decay.

Hadas reflects on the learning process with her mother, who taught her the names and characteristics of different plants. This education was not just botanical but also linguistic and creative, as her mother “guided my unsteadily printing pencil” and introduced her to the “enterprise of writing.” This connection between nature and writing is crucial, highlighting how these early experiences shaped the speaker’s identity and creative expression.

The poem’s emotional core lies in the juxtaposition of past and present. The speaker acknowledges the loss of her mother and the inevitable fading of memories: “whose disappearance (1992) never made me fear / that everything good would disappear.” Despite this loss, the lessons learned and the love for nature persist, offering solace and continuity.

The transformation of Saint John’s Wort from a physical plant into a “brimming mug whose steam wreathes the lonely air” symbolizes the enduring and renewing power of memory and nature. The act of drinking the tea becomes a ritual of courage and reassurance, echoing the poem’s central message: “Courage. Nothing good will disappear.” This line serves as a mantra, reinforcing the idea that while physical objects and people may fade, their impact and the lessons they impart endure.

The poem concludes with a reflection on the cyclical nature of memory and recovery. The “renewable epiphany of vanishing and then recovery” suggests that the process of remembering and moving forward is continuous, much like the seasonal cycles of nature. The little notebook, now possibly turning to dust, represents the tangible past that gave way to intangible wisdom and resilience.

In “Humble Herb is Rival to Prozac,” Rachel Hadas masterfully blends personal memory with natural imagery to explore themes of loss, healing, and continuity. The poem is a testament to the enduring power of nature and the profound influence of maternal love and teaching. Through vivid descriptions and reflective musings, Hadas creates a deeply moving narrative that resonates with the universal experiences of memory and recovery.

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