The Wild Iris Themes
Suffering
In some ways, "The Wild Iris" is a painful poem. Suffering is front-and-center from the get-go, even though the speaker keeps predicting an end to it. It reminds us of those nurses who always assur...
Immortality
Answers don't come easily in Louise Glück's poems, and "The Wild Iris" is no exception. The poet makes us work for our meanings. So we probably shouldn't be surprised that the poem refuses to come...
Language and Communication
Why is the speaker in "The Wild Iris" so concerned about "voice"? Well, speaking is a creative act, a way to express our innermost thoughts and feelings. Speaking is also a social act that allows u...
Transformation
Like it or not, life is change. You are no longer the same person you were one minute ago. By default, we are changed by time and by the world. We are also changed by the choices we make (which is...