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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

WILD, by         Recitation by Author     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography

Tony Hoagland's "Wild" captures the incursion of nature into the civilized world, illustrating how wildness disrupts the order and predictability of suburban life. Through vivid and humorous imagery, Hoagland explores themes of unpredictability, the clash between nature and human development, and the need for adaptation in the face of chaos.

The poem begins by setting the scene in late August, a time when natural water sources dry up and "the high meadows turn parched and blond." This description of a seasonal change sets the stage for the bears' descent from the mountains into the valleys, which are now occupied by "condos and housing developments." This movement of bears into human habitats symbolizes nature's response to environmental changes and the encroachment of human civilization into natural spaces.

Hoagland humorously describes the bears' interactions with their new surroundings: "All residents are therefore prohibited / from putting their garbage out early. / The penalty for disobedience will be / bears: large black furry fellows." The image of bears engaging with human infrastructure—drinking from sprinkler systems, rolling trashcans, and bashing through screen doors—creates a comical yet poignant depiction of the wild intruding upon the domestic sphere.

The poem’s humor continues with the family's reaction to the bears: "the wife dials 1-800-BEARS on her cell phone, / a number she just made up / in a burst of creative hysteria." This line underscores the absurdity and panic that accompanies unexpected encounters with wildness, highlighting the human tendency to seek quick, often impractical solutions in moments of crisis.

Hoagland then reflects on the broader implications of this encounter: "Isn't that the way it goes? / Wildness enters your life and asks / that you invent a way to meet it, / and you run in the opposite direction." This observation speaks to the human inclination to flee from chaos and disruption rather than confronting and adapting to it. The bears, representing uncontrollable natural forces, challenge the characters to find new ways to coexist with the wild elements of life.

The poem escalates with the bears' casual domination of the suburban landscape: "as the bears saunter down Main Street / sending station wagons crashing into fire hydrants, / getting the police department to phone / for tranquilizer guns." The ensuing chaos, culminating in the accidental tranquilizing of "the unpopular police chief," serves as a satirical commentary on the ineffectiveness and unintended consequences of human attempts to control nature.

The poem concludes with a striking image: "as the bears inherit the earth, / full of water and humans and garbage, / which looks to them like paradise." This ending suggests a reversal of roles, where the bears thrive in the altered environment humans have created, finding abundance and opportunity in what humans perceive as disorder.

Hoagland's reflection on the experience of wildness—"When you're already feeling wild and get to the point where 'wildness enters your life and asks / that you invent a way to meet it,' isn't that the point where you feel road rage or checkout line rage or now-you've-made-a-mess rage? Aauurgh!"—connects the external chaos of the bears with internal emotional turmoil. This connection highlights the universal nature of facing uncontrollable forces, whether they are external, like the bears, or internal, like emotions of rage and frustration.

"Wild" by Tony Hoagland uses humor and vivid imagery to explore the disruptions caused by the natural world intruding upon human order. The poem underscores the need for adaptability and creativity in the face of chaos, while also reflecting on the human tendency to resist and flee from wildness. Through its satirical and poignant observations, "Wild" invites readers to reconsider their relationship with nature and the unpredictability inherent in life.


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