Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Carol Frost's poem "The St. Louis Zoo" is an evocative meditation on the interplay between nature and human perception, drawing connections between the serene and the sinister, the observed and the internal. Through vivid descriptions and reflective musings, the poem explores themes of beauty, captivity, and the inherent instincts that lie beneath the surface of both animals and humans.

The poem opens with a reference to Shakespeare's "The Tempest," immediately setting a tone of enchantment and mystery: "The isle is full of noises, / Sounds and sweet airs . . . sometimes voices." This allusion suggests that the zoo, like Prospero's island, is a place filled with strange and magical elements, where one can hear and sense things beyond the ordinary.

The first image presented is that of a snake "high, yellow, coiled, and weighting the branch like an odd piece of fruit," sleeping near the gate of the serpent house. This striking description transforms the snake into a peculiar yet beautiful object, blending natural beauty with an underlying tension. The poem then shifts to the ambient sounds of the zoo: the "hushed air," "piecemeal remarks," and the "hoarse voice of the keeper." These sounds create a backdrop of both quietude and activity, reflecting the dual nature of the zoo as a place of both stillness and life.

The keeper's interaction with the elephants, "Hungry, are you? There’s a girl. How’s Pearl?" adds a human element to the scene, showcasing the caretakers' role in the lives of the animals. The description of the duck pond and the birds with "saffron wings" in the flight cage continues this blend of natural beauty and human intervention. The flamingos, "the color of mangoes," derive their vivid hue from the algae they consume, much like "angels are made of air," emphasizing the interconnectedness of life and environment.

The poem takes a contemplative turn as the speaker reflects on autumn, symbolized by scattered leaves, and the gorilla in his simulated rain forest, a poignant image of captivity. The gorilla, pulling out "handfuls of grass," lacks a "Miranda to teach him to speak," yet he is "full of noises." This juxtaposition highlights the contrast between the natural world and the constraints of captivity, while also drawing a parallel to the primal aspects within humans.

The gorilla's eyes, described as "ingots," suggest a depth and intensity of experience, capturing the speaker's attention and prompting deeper reflection. The thick air of late summer, infused with the scents of rose and lily, evokes a sense of malevolence. The snake, "tonguing the air, as if to tell me of its dreaming," becomes a symbol of deeper, perhaps darker, truths. The snake's dream involves "birds of paradise gemming a pond" and various sensual and predatory images, embodying a cycle of beauty and violence.

The snake's presence and the internal voice it represents prompt the speaker to confront their own nature: "You are the snake, snake coils in you, it said." This realization forces the speaker to consider the primal instincts and hunger that reside within, questioning their own identity and spirituality: "Why am I not just someone alive? When did Spirit tear me / to see how void of blessing I was?" These lines reveal an existential crisis, a struggle with the self and its inherent desires.

The poem concludes with the snake tasting "dusk’s black / to feel if it was still good," a moment of primal recognition and acceptance. The final lines, "Leaf, lichen, the least refinements, and the perfection," suggest a reconciliation with the natural world and its cycles. This acceptance of both the beautiful and the brutal aspects of existence brings the poem full circle, from the enchantment of the zoo's noises to the deep, internal understanding of one's own nature.

"The St. Louis Zoo" by Carol Frost is a profound exploration of the connections between nature, captivity, and human introspection. Through its rich imagery and contemplative tone, the poem invites readers to reflect on the complexities of life and the inherent instincts that shape our understanding of the world and ourselves.

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