Published in 1992 by HarperCollins, The Wild Iris is a Pulitzer Prize-winning collection of poems told from the perspectives of humans, personified flowers, and an omniscient deity. These poems give insights on the nature of suffering and on human relationships, as well as relationships between humans and other beings. This is accomplished through allegory, prayer poems, and careful observation and embodiment of the natural world. Overall, the collection encompasses ideas about time, mortality, joy and grief. It has been referred to as a Lieder cycle, or a grouping of individually complete songs linked by unifying factors. The collection is organized by passing seasons. Interspersed are prayer poems, with the matins (morning prayers) occurring in the first section, and the vespers (evening prayers) appearing later. Many of the poems offer a detailed and fascinating depiction of nature and the beauty that is to be found in small details. All the poems are written in free verse.
"The Wild Iris" deals with death, rebirth, and creation. The speaker claims that at the end of their suffering, there is a door. The speaker then describes being conscious of the cycle of life, and suggests that passing through this cycle can renew a person and provide them with a voice.
"Witchgrass" is told from the point of view of a plant that disdains the human attempt to clear out so-called weeds. This speaker is tired of being blamed for the death of flowers, and claims that its survival does not depend upon human praise. Witchgrass will remain long after the garden and humans themselves disappear.
In "Matins" (#5), a gardener admits that she spends her time pretending to weed the lawn. In reality, she is searching for her own courage in the daily minute changes of the garden. Nature is a symbol for change and passing time, but the speaker feels empty. She contemplates her need for an external guiding sign in her life.
"Vespers" (#4) is about the way the speaker and a man named John respectively experience peace, and what this contrast says about their relationship. While peace never leaves John as he works in the garden, the speaker's peace rushes through her like bright light.
"Retreating Light" concerns the act of creation. The speaker is a divine force that bestowed life and creativity upon humans. Upon observing someone fully immersed in writing, this deity feels satisfaction, and is confident in departing from human affairs in order to attend to other things.
