Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Essay" by Hayden Carruth is a poignant and reflective piece that delves into the theme of animal death in poetry, exploring the cumulative emotional impact of these elegies on both the poet and the reader. Through his meditation on this motif, Carruth confronts broader themes of loss, environmental degradation, and the disconnection between humans and the natural world.

The poem begins with Carruth acknowledging the prevalence of animal elegies in the work of various poets, including notable pieces like Wilbur's toad, Kinnell's porcupine, and Eberhart's squirrel. He notes the sheer volume of such poems, suggesting that this has become almost a rite of passage for poets, himself included. This observation sets the stage for a deeper exploration of why these poems are so pervasive and what they signify about the poets' and society's relationship with the natural world.

Carruth's initial emotional detachment upon reading Edwin Brock's poem about a dead fox by the sea serves as a turning point in the poem. This detachment is not due to a lack of empathy but rather a sense of being overwhelmed by the cumulative effect of so many similar elegies. However, this moment of numbness gives way to a deeper, more profound sorrow, not just for the individual loss but for the collective experience of witnessing the decline and disappearance of animal life from the world.

The poem suggests that the multitude of animal elegies is both "necessary" and "suitable and correct," recognizing them as a response to a specific historical moment: "the finishing off of the animals." Carruth articulates a sense of witnessing a great exodus, as animals retreat from existence under the pressures of human expansion and environmental destruction. The imagery of deer leaping out of existence and hawks climbing to the stars is both beautiful and tragic, capturing the irreversible nature of this loss.

"Essay" mourns not only the physical disappearance of animals but also the loss of their wildness, their voices, and their presence as integral parts of our shared world. Carruth reflects on a long history of coexistence between humans and animals, emphasizing the deep bond that has been severed in the span of a few generations.

The closing lines of the poem underscore the silent departure of the animals, a departure unmarked by reproach or farewell. This silence is perhaps the most poignant aspect of the poem, highlighting the indifference of the natural world to human actions, even as those actions lead to its destruction.

Through "Essay," Carruth contributes to the conversation on environmental consciousness and the role of poetry in bearing witness to the changes shaping our world. The poem serves as an elegy not just for individual animals but for the diminishing wildness of the planet, urging readers to confront the implications of this loss and to reconsider their relationship with the non-human world.

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