"Fern Hill" is a poem written by Dylan Thomas that captures the fleeting nature of youth and the eventual passage into adulthood. The poem is written in first person, with the speaker reminiscing on their past experiences at Fern Hill, a place of innocence and freedom.
The poem begins with the speaker declaring, "Now as I was young and easy under the apple boughs," which sets the tone for the rest of the poem as a nostalgicically recollection of the speaker's youth. The imagery of the "apple boughs" evokes a sense of Edenic innocence and simplicity, a time before the complications and responsibilities of adulthood set in.
As the poem progresses, the speaker describes the idyllic life they led at Fern Hill, filled with joy, laughter, and freedom. The speaker describes the "green and carefree" fields and the "farms of the bee-loud glade," and how they "danced" and "sang" with the "boys and girls" under the "trees." This imagery of youthful exuberance and merriment further reinforces the idea of Fern Hill as a place of innocence and freedom.
However, as the poem nears its end, the speaker reflects on how this carefree existence was not meant to last. The speaker speaks of how they "sang in the sun, fled from the moon" and how "time let me hail and climb" but "not the pyramids," implying that their youth was finite and that they could not escape the passage of time.
The final stanza of the poem serves as a poignant reminder of the inevitability of death and the fleeting nature of youth. The speaker speaks of how "Time drowned the song and play," and how "farms of the dead" now lie where "boys and girls" once danced and sang. This imagery of death and decay serves as a reminder that youth is temporary and that we must eventually leave behind the carefree existence of our youth.
In conclusion, "Fern Hill" is a beautifully written and poignant poem that captures the fleeting nature of youth and the eventual passage into adulthood. Through its vivid imagery and nostalgicically recollection of the past, the poem serves as a reminder of the importance of cherishing our youth and making the most of the time we have.
