Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Mercian Hymns: 15" by Geoffrey Hill presents a scene rich with imagery and allusions, blending the everyday with the mythic to explore themes of power, heritage, and the intersection of nature and civilization. The poem opens with the mundane activity of dealing with a "snarled root of dead crabapple," a task that becomes symbolic of larger struggles and transformations.

"Tutting, he wrenched at a snarled root of dead crabapple. It rose against him." The word "tutting" suggests frustration, a common human reaction to difficulty. The act of wrenching at the root indicates a struggle, implying that the natural world resists human control. This struggle quickly escalates into a mythic encounter: "In brief cavort he was Cernunnos, the branched god, lightly concussed." Cernunnos, the Celtic horned god associated with nature, fertility, and the underworld, symbolizes the primal forces of the earth. The speaker's transformation into Cernunnos, even briefly, signifies a deep connection to these ancient, untamed forces.

"He divided his realm. It lay there like a dream." This line suggests an act of surveying and controlling land, a common theme in Hill's poetry. The realm, described as lying "like a dream," evokes a sense of the mythical or idealized landscape. This land, both real and imagined, is ancient and strategic, filled with the remnants of history and nature's own defenses: "An ancient land, full of strategy. Ramparts of compost pioneered by red-helmeted worms."

The description of "ramparts of compost" introduces the idea of nature's own fortifications, crafted by humble but industrious creatures like worms. This image contrasts with human-built fortifications, suggesting that nature's processes are equally complex and strategic. The "red-helmeted worms" add a touch of whimsy and personification, implying a kind of natural army at work.

"Hemlock in ambush, night-soil, tetanus." These elements further illustrate the dangers lurking within the natural world. Hemlock, a poisonous plant, represents hidden threats, while "night-soil" (human waste used as fertilizer) and tetanus (a deadly disease) highlight the risks and filth associated with both natural and human environments.

The poem concludes with a striking image: "A wasps’ nest ensconced in the hedge-bank, a reliquary or wrapped head, the corpse of Cernunnos pitching dayward its feral horns." The wasps’ nest, described as a reliquary or wrapped head, evokes both reverence and danger, a sacred object and a source of potential harm. The final image of "the corpse of Cernunnos pitching dayward its feral horns" suggests a cyclical return to the earth, a resurrection of ancient forces challenging the modern world.

Through these vivid images and mythic allusions, "Mercian Hymns: 15" explores the tension between human endeavors and the persistent, often resistant forces of nature. Hill's poetry delves into the layers of history, mythology, and personal struggle, creating a rich tapestry that reflects on the enduring power and mystery of the natural world.

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