Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Lawrence Ferlinghetti's poem "Horses At Dawn" is a vibrant celebration of the wild horses that inhabit high meadows and mesas. Through evocative imagery and rhythmic repetition, Ferlinghetti transports the reader to a dawn scene where the horses come alive in a watercolor-like landscape. He draws inspiration from the art of Ben Shahn, creating a vivid tableau that captures both the beauty and the primal energy of these animals.

The poem begins with the rhythmic invocation, "The horses the horses the wild horses at dawn," immediately immersing the reader in the scene. The repetition of "the horses" reinforces their presence, building a sense of anticipation and urgency. Ferlinghetti compares this scene to "a watercolor by Ben Shahn," suggesting that the horses appear as if painted in soft yet vivid strokes. The reference to Shahn’s art evokes a sense of both realism and surrealism, as if the horses occupy a space that is both concrete and dreamlike.

Ferlinghetti describes the horses as being "alive in the high meadow / in the high country / on the far mesa." These layered geographic descriptions create a sense of remoteness and majesty, highlighting the untamed nature of the horses' environment. The repetition of "high" emphasizes their elevated position, both literally and metaphorically, suggesting a world untouched by human civilization.

The poem’s rhythm builds as Ferlinghetti describes their movement: "you can see them galloping / you can see them snorting." The repetition of "you can see" invites the reader to visualize the horses' wild and powerful motion. The auditory imagery adds another layer to the scene: "you can hear their thunder distantly / you can hear the small thunder of their small hooves insistently." The juxtaposition of "small thunder" with "insistently" creates a rhythmic and musical quality, mimicking the sound of the horses' hooves.

Ferlinghetti then likens the sound of the horses to "wood hammers thrumming on a distant drum," emphasizing the primal and rhythmic quality of their galloping. This simile conjures images of tribal drumming, suggesting a connection between the horses and ancient rituals, as if their galloping were part of a timeless dance.

The final lines capture the transformative power of the sunrise: "The sun roars & / throws their shadows out of the night." The personification of the sun as it "roars" imbues the scene with energy and life, while the phrase "throws their shadows out of the night" suggests that the horses are emerging from darkness into light. This transformation symbolizes the dawn itself, where the horses' shadows stretch across the landscape as they move with the rising sun.

In "Horses At Dawn," Ferlinghetti masterfully blends vivid imagery, rhythmic repetition, and auditory elements to create a scene that is both visual and visceral. The poem celebrates the untamed spirit of wild horses and the transformative power of dawn, inviting readers to witness a world where nature's beauty and primal energy coexist in harmony. By drawing inspiration from Ben Shahn’s art, Ferlinghetti creates a poetic watercolor that captures the spirit of the high country and the majesty of the wild horses that roam it.

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