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The Annotated Edition

THE ENKINDLED SPRING by D. H. Lawrence

Summary, meaning, line-by-line analysis & FAQ.

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Spring bursts forth in vibrant life all around the speaker, so intense that he likens it to a wildfire of green.

Poet
D. H. Lawrence
Themes
despair, identity, loneliness
The PoemFull text

THE ENKINDLED SPRING

D. H. Lawrence

THIS spring as it comes bursts up in bonfires green, Wild puffing of emerald trees, and flame-filled bushes, Thorn-blossom lifting in wreaths of smoke between Where the wood fumes up and the watery, flickering rushes. I am amazed at this spring, this conflagration Of green fires lit on the soil of the earth, this blaze Of growing, and sparks that puff in wild gyration, Faces of people streaming across my gaze. And I, what fountain of fire am I among This leaping combustion of spring? My spirit is tossed About like a shadow buffeted in the throng Of flames, a shadow that's gone astray, and is lost.

Public domain

Sourced from Project Gutenberg

§01Quick summary

What this poem is about

Spring bursts forth in vibrant life all around the speaker, so intense that he likens it to a wildfire of green. Yet, instead of feeling invigorated, he feels adrift — a shadow consumed by all that fiery energy. The poem raises a quiet, unsettling question: where do *I* belong in a world that is so fiercely, indifferently alive?

§02Themes

Recurring themes

§03Line by line

Stanza by stanza, with notes

  1. THIS spring as it comes bursts up in bonfires green, / Wild puffing of emerald trees, and flame-filled bushes,

    Editor's note

    Lawrence begins by turning typical spring imagery upside down. Rather than gentle blossoms and birds chirping, spring here is a **fire** — bonfires, flames, fumes, and smoke. The trees don’t just bloom; they "burst" and "puff" as if they’re exploding. Green is all around, but it feels more like heat and light than calm nature. This establishes the poem's main metaphor: spring as a wild blaze.

  2. I am amazed at this spring, this conflagration / Of green fires lit on the soil of the earth, this blaze

    Editor's note

    The speaker enters the poem and expresses his **amazement** — not joy, not gratitude, just shock. The term "conflagration" (a massive, destructive fire) heightens the intensity. Then we see a change: "Faces of people streaming across my gaze" suddenly introduces human figures into the scene. The energy of spring and the crowd blend into a chaotic mix, both equally overwhelming and impersonal.

  3. And I, what fountain of fire am I among / This leaping combustion of spring?

    Editor's note

    The speaker reflects on the fire metaphor and questions: what kind of fire *am* I? It's a bold inquiry, but the answer quickly takes the air out of it. He isn't a source of fire — he is a **shadow**, lacking any light of his own, merely tossed about within the flames. By the end, he isn't just lost in the crowd; he feels "gone astray" in a more profound, existential way. The spring's overwhelming vitality leaves him feeling almost nonexistent.

§04Tone & mood

How this poem feels

The tone follows a distinct path: starting with awe, shifting to disorientation, and finally settling into quiet despair. Lawrence writes with a sense of urgency—his short, punchy sentences and vivid language keep the energy alive—but beneath that vibrancy is a speaker who feels increasingly insignificant. It never falls into self-pity; the language is too dynamic for that. The overall sensation is more akin to vertigo than to sadness.

§05Symbols & metaphors

Symbols & metaphors

Fire / Conflagration
The central symbol of the poem transforms spring's growth into wildfire — wild, consuming, and indifferent to everything in its way. Here, fire represents the raw, impersonal force of nature, which is exciting to observe but frightening to experience firsthand.
The Shadow
The speaker's self-image shifts by the final stanza. A shadow doesn't have its own light; it only exists in relation to other objects. Describing the shadow as "buffeted in the throng of flames" conveys the sense of lacking a stable identity amid such vibrant energy.
Green
Green symbolizes life and renewal, yet Lawrence removes its comforting aspect by linking it to fire and smoke. Phrases like "bonfires green" and "green fires" give growth a violent edge instead of a gentle one, implying that nature's fertility is a powerful force to be reckoned with rather than just something to celebrate.
Faces of people streaming
The unexpected arrival of a crowd in the second stanza connects the chaos of nature to the chaos of society. People become just more sparks in the fire, intensifying the speaker's feeling of being overwhelmed by forces greater than himself.

§06Historical context

Historical context

Lawrence wrote this poem in the early twentieth century, during a time when he was grappling with his long-standing interest in how human consciousness relates to the natural world. He was quite skeptical of the notion that the modern, thinking self is the center of everything — pushing back against both Victorian sentimentality about nature and the increasing mechanization of industrial England. "The Enkindled Spring" embodies this perspective: nature isn't just a backdrop for human emotions; it's a powerful force that overshadows them. Lawrence's working-class Midlands upbringing also played a significant role in shaping his worldview, as the vibrant natural landscape surrounding the coal-mining towns was always present in his life. His early poetry, including this piece, tends to use free verse with strong rhythmic pulses instead of rigid formal patterns, reflecting his belief that form should emerge from the energy of feeling.

§07FAQ

Questions readers ask

The poem explores the sensation of being lost within something vast and vibrant that defies understanding. When spring bursts onto the scene, the speaker doesn't feel rejuvenated; instead, they feel wiped away. The underlying message, if there is one, is that nature is indifferent to our existence — and that awareness can be both terrifying and awe-inspiring.

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