Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Linda Gregg’s poem “The Calves Not Chosen” explores themes of vulnerability, survival, and the harsh realities of life through vivid imagery and poignant metaphor. The poem reflects on the fate of those who are not chosen, drawing a stark contrast between the natural world’s cruelty and the tender, desperate cries of the orphan heart.

The poem opens with a cacophony of cawing, “The mind goes caw, caw, caw, caw, / dark and fast,” immediately setting a tone of chaos and urgency. The repetition and harsh consonants evoke the relentless and indifferent nature of the world. This relentless cry is paralleled by the “orphan heart” that yearns for salvation, crying out, “Save me. Purchase me / as the sun makes the fruit ripe.” Here, the heart is personified, expressing a deep longing to be nurtured and cherished, akin to the ripening of fruit by the sun.

Gregg’s imagery of the “black birds... wrangling in the fields” serves as a powerful symbol of the unforgiving aspects of nature. These birds are described as “all sinew / and stick bones,” emphasizing their raw, survivalist nature. Their “eyes are careless of cold and rain, / of both day and night,” depicting a detachment from comfort and emotion, driven purely by instinct and necessity. The birds’ lack of kindness and their murderous tendencies towards each other further highlight the brutal competition for survival in the natural world.

The poem’s central metaphor emerges in the lines, “Only a few calves / will be chosen, the rest sold for meat.” This stark reality underscores the selective and often arbitrary nature of survival and success. The chosen calves represent the fortunate few who are spared, while the rest face a grim fate. This selection process is indifferent and mechanical, devoid of compassion or fairness.

Gregg continues to weave natural imagery with emotional undertones, “The sound of the wind grows bigger / than the tree it’s in, lessens only / to increase.” The wind’s sound, growing and diminishing, mirrors the fluctuating intensity of life’s challenges and the persistent, cyclical nature of struggle. The poem concludes with the haunting call of the crows, “Haw, haw the crows call, / awake or asleep, in white, in black.” This final image reinforces the relentless, omnipresent nature of hardship and the indifferent call of fate.

“The Calves Not Chosen” is a poignant meditation on the harsh realities of life and the vulnerability of those not favored by fortune. Gregg’s use of stark, natural imagery and the personification of the orphan heart create a powerful juxtaposition between the indifferent cruelty of nature and the deep, intrinsic yearning for care and survival. The poem speaks to the universal human experience of longing for safety and recognition in a world that often feels indifferent and unforgiving.

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