Facts in Patterns

Lowell wrote this poem in 1915 in the midst of WWI, a major global war originating in Europe that lasted from 1914 to 1918. “Flanders,” or Flanders Fields, was a name that the English used to refer to battlefields in the Belgian provinces of West and East Flanders. This reference suggests that the speaker died in the trenches of Flanders Fields during WWI.

Many European fountains featured naked, mythological figures, the god Cupid, or female nymphs. In a garden such as the one described in these lines, these fountains often took the form of a large circular basin with a figure standing in the middle of it. The figure would hold a type of jug, plate, or other pouring implement in order to create a stream of water and the dripping water sound she describes.

In this context, a “train” is a long piece of material attached to the back of a formal dress that trails behind it on the ground. Trains were popular on the dresses of rich women throughout the 19th century and still appear on many formal gowns today. Notice that the description of this dress emphasizes its excessive ornamentation.

The noun “thrift” has myriad meanings, but considering the context of the garden, here it most likely refers to a specific species of plant. For example the plantain thrift, lavender thrift, and the prickly thrift are all plants that could appear in a well kept garden. The acantholimon glumaceum in particular is a pretty garden rock plant that can be used to create borders and boundaries.