What Is the Poem “Flower in the Crannied Wall”?

“Flower in the Crannied Wall” is a short, six-line poem written by Lord Alfred Tennyson in 1869. The poem is thought to contemplate how little man understands the meaning of both his and God’s existence, and whether true unity exists between nature and the divine. The main topic of the poem is discovering who God and man are in relation to one another.

Tennyson was considered to be one of the foremost Victorian poets of the nineteenth century. He was known both for his love of nature and for the lyrical quality of his poetry. In “Flower in the Crannied Wall,” Tennyson used the simplicity of nature to delve into the complexity of the existence of all life. He published his first collection of poetry in 1827; “Poems by Two Brothers” was a collaborative effort between Tennyson and two of his brothers, Frederick and Charles, explains Encyclopædia Britannica. Among his many published works, Tennyson is known for such poems as “The Lady of Shallot,” “Ulysses” and “The Charge of the Light Brigade.” The poem “Flower in a Crannied Wall” was composed by Tennyson at a wishing well on the grounds of Waggoners Wells in 1863. A plaque commemorating the poem now hangs on the well.