Alice Oswald shows she has an amazing way with words through this poem. This poem is just what the title says. Oswald compellingly describes the delicate nature of a daisy. Yet she describes it in a way that makes one thing she's speaking of a young child. The reader is reminded of nature's unadulterated, organic substance through the depiction of a daisy. This reminder juxtaposes the chaotic, destructive nature of humanity.
The speaker personifies the daisy, giving it attributes that touch on the intricacies and sensitivities of human nature. For example, the speaker says she won't meet that quiet child in the first line, referring to the daisy. She says this match-size daisy has lashes, an open eye, and a halo. The speaker is hinting at the daisy's purity as though it is an innocent child.
Despite all this, she talks about not surrendering to the power of its innocence. It's as if observing and contemplating about the daisy reveals inner weaknesses of the speaker. She realizes the daisy is more sweet and meek than herself. Unfortunately, this makes the speaker feel somewhat inadequate, leading her to mutilate the daisy for the sake of making a necklace.
