The Tradition

“The Tradition” begins with the italicized names of three types of flower. In the first line with these flowers is a collective, sentient “we.” This “we” is the group narrating the poem. In the second line, readers learn this collective “we” tends to the flowers: “Aster. Nasturtium. Delphinium. We thought / Fingers in dirt meant it was our dirt” (Lines 1-2). Later in the poem, the reader will learn that the “we” speaking the poem have filmed the flowers they planted blossoming and are fast-forwarding through this video (Line 9-11). One function of italicizing the flowers is to differentiate between the sped-up tape and the group’s thoughts outside of the video.

Encountering the opening two lines for the first time, however, a reader would have no context for the interpreting the list of flowers. Also mysterious at the outset is the identity of the mysterious “we” (for example, does this “we” include or exclude the reader?) and to what tradition the title refers. These elements will become clear as the poem progresses.

The first words of the poem, “Aster. Nasturtium. Delphinium” (Line 1), are all colorful perennials. Perennials are plants that grow every spring, as opposed to dying off after one season.