Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Kay Ryan’s poem "Intention" distills a profound observation about the fleeting nature of purpose and action, employing the metaphor of growth to explore how quickly opportunities can transform into missed chances. In her trademark style of brevity and precision, Ryan captures the delicate balance between intention and execution, reminding readers that the value of intention lies in its immediacy and follow-through.

The poem opens with a striking assertion: "Intention doesn’t sweeten." This line immediately rejects the romanticized notion that good intentions are inherently virtuous or sufficient. The word "sweeten" suggests an idealized ripening or maturation, but Ryan quickly undermines this expectation. For her, intention is not something that improves with age; rather, its value diminishes if not acted upon promptly. This sets the tone for the poem’s meditation on the perishable quality of intention, aligning it with the natural world’s cycles of growth and decay.

The next lines, "It should be picked young / and eaten," extend the metaphor, likening intention to a fresh, ripe fruit or vegetable. Here, Ryan emphasizes the importance of immediacy—intention, like produce, is best when acted upon at the height of its vitality. The use of "picked" and "eaten" underscores the necessity of action, framing intention as something that must be seized and consumed before it spoils. By invoking the sensory act of eating, Ryan connects intention to the physical realm, grounding her abstract concept in tangible imagery.

Ryan deepens the metaphor with the line, "Sometimes only hours / separate the cotyledon / from the wooden plant." The reference to the cotyledon—a part of a seedling that provides nourishment during its early growth—evokes the fragile, transient stage of initial development. The "wooden plant," in contrast, represents rigidity and maturity, a stage at which the plant has hardened and is no longer suitable for consumption. This juxtaposition captures the fleeting window of opportunity between an intention’s inception and its obsolescence. The word "hours" intensifies this sense of urgency, suggesting that the transition from possibility to impossibility can happen faster than one might expect.

The final lines, "Then if you want to eat it, / you can’t," deliver a stark conclusion. The use of "you can’t" is deliberately abrupt, reflecting the finality of missed opportunities. By addressing the reader directly, Ryan personalizes the poem’s message, turning it into a cautionary reflection on procrastination or hesitation. The shift from the abstract "intention" to the visceral image of eating reinforces the poem’s central idea: without timely action, even the best intentions become useless, leaving behind only regret.

Structurally, the poem’s brevity mirrors its thematic focus on immediacy. The compact form demands careful attention, much like the fleeting window of opportunity it describes. The lack of punctuation beyond the period in the final line creates a seamless flow, suggesting the inevitability of the progression from intention to inaction if time is allowed to pass unchecked. Ryan’s choice of plain, unadorned language underscores the universality of her message, making the poem accessible yet profound.

The poem’s central metaphor—the growth and hardening of a plant—suggests not only the impermanence of intention but also its transformation into something less malleable over time. This naturalistic imagery aligns with Ryan’s broader poetic style, which often draws on the natural world to illuminate human experiences. The plant’s transition from nourishing cotyledon to inedible wood parallels the way unfulfilled intentions become rigid, losing their original vitality and potential.

"Intention" ultimately serves as a meditation on the necessity of decisive action. By framing intention as something perishable, Ryan challenges readers to recognize the limits of good intentions alone. The poem’s wisdom lies in its stark simplicity, urging us to seize moments of potential before they slip away. In its compactness, "Intention" encapsulates a universal truth: without timely execution, even the purest intentions wither, leaving only the bitter aftertaste of what could have been.

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