The Force that through the Green Fuse Drives the Flower : quotations

“The Force that through the Green Fuse Drives the Flower” is a poem by Dylan Thomas. Here are a few notable quotes from the poem:

“The force that through the green fuse drives the flower
Drives my green age; that blasts the roots of trees
Is my destroyer.”

Explanation: The speaker suggests that the same natural force driving the flower’s growth also signifies their vitality and eventual demise, as it can also destroy the roots of trees.

“And I am dumb to tell the crooked rose
My youth is bent by the same wintry fever.”

Explanation: The speaker acknowledges their foolishness for confessing to the distorted beauty of a withered rose. It reveals their vulnerability to the passage of time and life’s hardships.

“The force that drives the water through the rocks
Drives my red blood; that dries the mouthing streams
Turns mine to wax.”

Explanation: The poet Dylan Thomas draws a parallel between the natural force that flows through the earth and sustains life and the life force within himself. It emphasizes his connection to the natural world.

“And I am dumb to mouth unto my veins
How at the mountain spring the same mouth sucks.”

Explanation: The speaker cannot articulate how their mouth drinks from the mountain spring. It highlights the interconnectedness of all life.