The Sea Rose (symbol)
The sea rose, like many of the flowers in her Sea Garden collection, is a symbol of strong female identity and resistance in a world that is hostile, aggressive, and damaging to women. The qualities of a woman that make her precious, according to H.D., are her resilience, nuanced character, grit, and determination to survive. Much like the conception of woman H.D. seems to advocate for, the sea rose draws its value from its ability, its reaction to outside forces, and its tenacity. The sea rose, a symbol of the modern woman, reveals its vulnerability but does not give up. These qualities are admired and considered "more precious" than the beauty, perfection, or freshness of the traditional rose, which symbolizes the feminine ideals of tradition.
Leaf
Throughout the poem the word "leaf" appears. First, when the speaker notes that the sea rose is "sparse of leaf," second, when she reiterates that the sea rose is "with small leaf," and third, to reference the significant and intense scent given off by the sea rose that has been "hardened in a leaf." Clearly, though the leaf is a motif that illustrates the fragility and tattered state of the sea rose, it also becomes a simultaneous symbol of the sea rose's continued survival and toughness. By the end of the poem, the special scent of the sea rose is found exclusively in the leaf, not necessarily the petals of the flower.
