Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Geary Hobson’s "Buffalo Poem: 1" opens with the evocative subtitle, "ON HEARING THAT A SMALL HERD OF BUFFALO HAS 'BROKEN LOOSE' AND IS 'RUNNING WILD' AT THE ALBUQUERQUE AIRPORT—SEPTEMBER 26, 1975." This factual yet peculiar premise serves as the foundation for a layered exploration of freedom, displacement, and cultural memory. By focusing on an unexpected event—buffalo, symbols of the American plains and Indigenous heritage, disrupting a modern, mechanized space like an airport—Hobson creates a powerful juxtaposition that evokes both humor and deeper reflection on historical and cultural themes.

The poem’s final line, "—roam on, brothers ...," carries a resonance far beyond its simple phrasing. Here, Hobson invokes the buffalo not merely as animals but as emblematic figures, standing in for Indigenous peoples, their histories, and their struggles. The term “brothers” anthropomorphizes the buffalo, aligning their plight with that of Native communities who, like the buffalo, have faced displacement, containment, and near-eradication at the hands of colonization and modernization.

The imagery of buffalo “breaking loose” and “running wild” within the confines of an airport—a symbol of modernity, control, and globalization—creates a stark visual contrast. Airports are places of strict regulation, where movement is monitored, and where travelers are funneled through security and customs, their movements dictated by schedules and protocols. The buffalo, in their unexpected presence in such a space, represent a disruption of this order, a return to a wilder, freer existence that defies the human-imposed boundaries of the modern world.

This scene also echoes the historical context of the buffalo’s near-extinction in the 19th century, a tragedy deeply intertwined with the U.S. government’s efforts to subjugate Native American tribes. The decimation of buffalo herds was not just an ecological catastrophe but a deliberate strategy to undermine Indigenous peoples whose livelihoods depended on these animals. Thus, the image of buffalo “running wild” in a modern setting like an airport takes on a symbolic weight—it becomes a fleeting, almost surreal reclamation of space and autonomy, a brief moment of resistance against the historical forces of displacement and erasure.

The poem’s brevity is part of its power. Hobson doesn’t elaborate or over-explain; instead, he lets the surreal nature of the event and the weight of the historical context do the heavy lifting. The minimalist style reflects a quiet reverence for the subject, allowing the reader to sit with the image and draw their own connections. The ellipsis at the end of “roam on, brothers ...” suggests continuity, an ongoing journey that transcends the boundaries of the poem and extends into the larger narrative of Indigenous resilience and survival.

The choice of Albuquerque as the setting is also significant. Albuquerque, New Mexico, sits in a region rich with Native history and culture, yet it is also a city that, like many others in the United States, reflects the complex and often fraught intersection of Indigenous heritage and modern development. The airport, as a symbol of transience and global connectivity, stands in sharp contrast to the deep-rooted history of the buffalo and the land itself. This tension between the past and the present, between nature and technology, permeates the poem and invites readers to reflect on what has been lost and what still endures.

Hobson’s poem can also be read as a commentary on the illusion of control. Airports are meticulously managed environments, designed to minimize unpredictability and ensure smooth operations. The sudden appearance of buffalo, animals that embody untamed wilderness, disrupts this controlled space, reminding us of the persistent, uncontrollable forces of nature and history. In this way, the poem subtly critiques the human desire to dominate and regulate, suggesting that true freedom cannot be fully contained or eradicated.

Moreover, the poem resonates with broader themes of liberation and resistance. The buffalo “breaking loose” is an act of defiance, however accidental it might seem. It challenges the assumption that the wild can be tamed and that history can be neatly packaged or forgotten. By aligning the buffalo with “brothers,” Hobson connects this moment of animal freedom to a larger human struggle for autonomy and dignity, particularly within the context of Indigenous resistance to colonization and cultural assimilation.

In its simplicity, "Buffalo Poem: 1" achieves a profound depth. Hobson’s sparse language and vivid imagery create a powerful meditation on freedom, displacement, and the enduring spirit of both the buffalo and the Indigenous peoples they symbolize. The poem invites readers to consider how history is ever-present, how the past can intrude upon the present in unexpected ways, and how the natural world, despite centuries of attempts to control and suppress it, continues to assert its presence.

Ultimately, Hobson’s closing words—“roam on, brothers ...”—serve as both a blessing and a call to action. They honor the buffalo’s brief, wild reclamation of space and, by extension, celebrate the resilience of Indigenous cultures that continue to endure and thrive despite historical injustices. The poem leaves us with an image of movement and freedom, a reminder that the spirit of resistance persists, whether in the form of buffalo running wild at an airport or in the ongoing struggles and triumphs of Native communities.

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