Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Robert Wrigley’s "Neigh" is a richly detailed narrative poem that captures a moment of human-animal interaction infused with humor, tenderness, and the complexities of relationships—both human and equine. The poem explores themes of connection, vulnerability, and continuity, all anchored in a small but resonant incident involving a farrier, a horse, and a young family.

The opening lines situate the reader firmly in the scene, describing the farrier’s actions with precision: "The farrier drops the left hind hoof, / and the gelding snubbed to the gatepost / lets fly his right foreleg straight out." This direct and unembellished depiction sets the tone for the poem, blending the pragmatic with the poetic. The horse’s sudden, defensive kick creates an immediate sense of tension, which is offset by the speaker’s wry detachment as the scene unfolds.

The injured man, "stroking / the long neck and peering into the enormous eye," is portrayed as attentive and gentle, yet momentarily distracted. His lapse—"he knew better, had let his mind / wander and didn’t see the ears lay back"—underscores the unpredictability of animals and the fine balance required in their handling. The description of his near-miss—"a quarter inch, a millisecond, and he would not be / so absurdly hopping there"—captures both the physical impact and the absurdity of the moment, blending humor with a sense of genuine relief.

Wrigley’s attention to detail is striking, as he evokes the sensory and emotional textures of the scene: "among / the silvered old and new slick droppings," the man utters no curses but instead processes the incident with quiet acceptance. The absence of anger or blame reflects the man’s understanding of the horse’s nature, as well as his own humility in the face of an unpredictable world.

The poem broadens its focus to include the man’s wife, standing "in the nearby shade / of a great black walnut tree." Her presence introduces a layer of tenderness and anticipation, as she "stands / stroking her distended pregnant belly." The connection between the horse and the family becomes clear: the horse, Burley, was born on the same day as the wife’s twenty-first birthday, linking them through a shared history. The wife’s hope for her unborn child—"the same day the child she carries might / ... be born himself"—suggests a continuation of this bond, a cyclical narrative of life and renewal.

The interplay of names in the poem—Burley for the horse, Joseph for the husband, and possibly Jasper for the child—reflects the ways in which identity and memory are tied to language and personal history. The wife’s sudden admiration for the farrier’s name, "hand-stenciled and sun-bleached on his truck?s door," introduces a moment of levity and spontaneity, as well as a reminder of the small, unexpected ways we find meaning in everyday life.

The poem’s final scene, with the couple sitting on the porch, is suffused with warmth and intimacy: "she nestles the bag of ice over his knee, / and Burley stands at the pasture gate, neighing." This quiet moment of care and reflection encapsulates the enduring bond between the family and their horse, as well as the resilience and humor required to navigate life’s small mishaps.

Wrigley’s free verse form allows the narrative to unfold organically, mirroring the ebb and flow of thought and action. The language is precise yet unpretentious, capturing the rhythms of rural life and the interplay of human and animal perspectives. The poem’s tone shifts seamlessly between humor, tenderness, and a subtle reverence for the interconnectedness of all living things.

"Neigh" is a celebration of the ordinary moments that reveal life’s deeper patterns and connections. Through its vivid imagery and nuanced characterization, Robert Wrigley crafts a narrative that resonates with warmth, humor, and the quiet beauty of enduring relationships—whether between humans, animals, or the generations that link them.

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