Editor's Choice

In "A Poison Tree," what does "And into my garden stole" literally mean? How did the enemy enter?

Quick answer:

"And into my garden stole" literally means that the enemy snuck or crept into the speaker's garden. The enemy entered at night, using the cover of darkness, as indicated by "When the night had veiled the pole," suggesting the North Star was hidden. The word "stole" also implies the enemy's illicit entry, likening him to a thief.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

In "A Poison Tree," this line literally means that the enemy snuck into the speaker's garden. The word "stole," for example, means to sneak or creep into a place. However, there is also a deeper meaning here: by using the word "stole," a word suggestive of stealing or theft, the speaker implies that the enemy entered without his permission. So, in one respect, the enemy is like a thief or a criminal.

In the next line, the reader learns how the enemy was able to sneak into the speaker's garden:

When the night have veiled the pole.

So, the enemy entered the garden at night, using the cover of darkness as a sort of protection against being detected by the speaker. In fact, it was so dark that night that the "pole," a reference to the North Star, could not be seen. Thus, the night sky helped to camouflage the enemy.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial