Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Gary Snyder’s "Old Bones" is a meditation on survival, ancestry, and the deep connection between the human body and the natural world. The poem evokes an image of a forager navigating a rugged landscape, seeking sustenance while simultaneously uncovering remnants of past lives. Through sparse yet evocative language, Snyder explores the cyclical nature of existence, the persistence of hunger, and the wisdom embedded in the land.

The opening lines, "Out there walking round, looking out for food," immediately establish the poem’s setting and tone. The act of wandering suggests a primal search, not only for sustenance but for meaning embedded in the environment. The speaker’s focus is on the elemental: "a rootstock, a birdcall, a seed that you can crack." These are small, fundamental aspects of survival, reinforcing the idea that life is sustained through keen observation and patience. Snyder’s language remains direct, mirroring the simplicity and immediacy of the natural world.

As the poem progresses, the speaker’s search intensifies: "plucking, digging, snaring, snagging, barely getting by." This list of actions conveys the difficulty of survival, the necessity of constant movement and adaptation. The verbs emphasize effort—each action is precise, deliberate, and connected to a larger, ongoing struggle for existence. The phrase "barely getting by" underscores the fragility of life, particularly in harsh conditions. The terrain itself is unforgiving: "no food out there on dusty slopes of scree." The mention of scree—loose rock fragments covering a mountain slope—suggests a landscape both barren and unstable, reinforcing the precariousness of existence.

The speaker acknowledges the necessity of preparation and foresight: "carry some—look for some, go for a hungry dream." This line captures both practicality and longing, suggesting that survival requires both immediate action and an awareness of future needs. The "hungry dream" can be read as both literal (the constant desire for sustenance) and metaphorical (a deeper yearning for connection, for understanding one’s place in the world).

The poem then shifts toward memory and ancestry, as the speaker reflects on "Deer bone, Dall sheep, bones hunger home." These lines introduce a sense of continuity between past and present. The mention of animal remains—specifically Dall sheep, a species adapted to harsh mountainous environments—reinforces the idea that survival has always been a challenge, not just for humans but for all creatures. The phrase "bones hunger home" is particularly resonant, suggesting that hunger is an intrinsic part of existence, and that even the remains of the past long to return to their place in the natural cycle.

Snyder extends this reflection into a broader contemplation of ancestry: "Out there somewhere a shrine for the old ones, the dust of the old bones, old songs and tales." Here, the landscape itself becomes a sacred space, a repository of history and memory. The "old ones" refer to ancestors—both human and nonhuman—who have lived and died in the same cycle of survival. The "dust of the old bones" suggests a return to the earth, a merging of past and present. The reference to "old songs and tales" highlights the importance of oral tradition, of passing down knowledge through generations.

The final lines, "What we ate—who ate what—how we all prevailed," reinforce the interconnectedness of all beings. The act of consumption, of feeding and being fed upon, is fundamental to existence. This is not just a human story but a universal one: all life is part of the same ecological web. The phrase "how we all prevailed" suggests resilience, the ability to endure through adaptation and shared wisdom.

Throughout "Old Bones," Snyder’s style remains unembellished, mirroring the rawness of the subject matter. The poem’s lack of punctuation and its reliance on simple, declarative statements create a sense of fluidity, as if the speaker is walking and thinking simultaneously. This mirrors the theme of movement—both literal (the forager searching for food) and temporal (the connection between past and present).

At its core, "Old Bones" is a meditation on survival, inheritance, and the natural cycle of life and death. Snyder portrays hunger not just as a physical need but as a fundamental force that binds all beings together, from ancient ancestors to modern-day wanderers. The landscape, though harsh, is also a source of memory, wisdom, and continuity. By grounding the poem in the physicality of bones, hunger, and the search for sustenance, Snyder connects human existence to the broader rhythms of nature, emphasizing the endurance of life and the shared history of all living things.

Copyright (c) 2025 PoetryExplorer

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...