Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Linda Hogan's "Crows" is a vivid, unsettling meditation on the presence and symbolism of these birds, blending natural imagery with themes of violence, power, and the eerie intersection between the human and animal worlds. Hogan, whose work frequently draws on Indigenous perspectives and deep ecological awareness, uses the crows not only as literal creatures but as metaphors for broader existential and societal concerns.

The poem begins with an anthropomorphic assertion: "Hear them speak like men / to one another." This immediately blurs the boundary between human and animal, attributing to the crows a form of communication that parallels human speech. Hogan’s choice to compare their gravel voices to that of men introduces a rough, almost menacing tone. The crows are not gentle or melodious; their voices are coarse, heavy, and filled with latent force.

The next line intensifies this sense of power: "Their gravel voices / are thunder breaking the sky." The comparison of the crows' calls to thunder suggests both a natural majesty and an ominous forewarning. Thunder, often a precursor to storms, evokes the potential for disruption and chaos. Hogan extends this threatening imagery with, "a gun cracking air." Here, the crows' voices are likened to gunfire, an unmistakable symbol of violence and danger. This association aligns the natural world with human conflict, hinting at an underlying tension between life and death, creation and destruction.

The poem's focus on bad air / filled with birds whose wings / tip indigo in the light continues this duality. The phrase bad air might refer to a literal, oppressive atmosphere or a more figurative sense of foreboding. The image of wings tipping indigo in the light introduces a fleeting beauty amid the darkness. Indigo, a deep blue, is often associated with mystery and introspection, suggesting that even in this menacing scene, there is a complexity, a deeper layer to the crows’ presence.

Hogan shifts attention to the human observers: "Beneath them, men with blue guns / turn up the whites of their eyes." The men, armed and presumably prepared to confront the crows, are depicted as vulnerable, their whites of their eyes exposed in fear or surprise. The blue guns mirror the indigo wings of the crows, subtly linking the instruments of human violence with the natural world. This mirroring could suggest a commentary on the futility or hypocrisy of human aggression toward nature, as if the crows and the men are reflections of one another in a cycle of violence.

The focus returns to the crows in the lines: "The feathers, / the feathers come apart, falling / specks of dust." The repetition of the feathers emphasizes the fragility and disintegration of the birds. As the feathers come apart and fall like specks of dust, Hogan evokes the ephemeral nature of life. Dust is a symbol of decay, mortality, and impermanence. This moment of dissolution contrasts sharply with the earlier imagery of power and violence, suggesting that even the most formidable forces eventually succumb to time and entropy.

The speaker's personal yearning emerges in the lines: "My ears want to hear them / begin to speak, / to hear the dark berries / uncoil through flesh." This desire to hear them begin to speak implies a longing for understanding, perhaps to decode the mystery of the crows' presence or to bridge the gap between human and animal consciousness. The metaphor of dark berries uncoil[ing] through flesh is both beautiful and unsettling. Berries often symbolize nature's bounty, but here, they seem to invade the body, intertwining with the physical self. This could suggest a merging of the natural and human worlds, or perhaps an invasive, inescapable force of nature that permeates human existence.

As the poem nears its conclusion, Hogan writes: "They are quiet, / so still / I wait for a breath / to escape the warm feathers." The sudden quiet and stillness contrast with the earlier chaos of thunder and gunfire. This silence is laden with tension, as the speaker wait[s] for a breath—a sign of life, of continuation. The phrase warm feathers adds a tactile intimacy, a reminder that beneath the symbolism, these are real, living creatures. Yet the anticipation of breath hints at mortality, as if the speaker is unsure whether life persists within these warm feathers or if death has already claimed them.

Structurally, the poem unfolds in short, clipped lines that mirror the sharp, sudden nature of the imagery. Hogan's use of enjambment propels the reader forward, creating a sense of movement and urgency, much like the unpredictable flight of crows. The sparse punctuation and economical language heighten the tension, leaving space for the reader to pause and absorb the weight of each image.

At its core, "Crows" explores the interplay between life and death, nature and humanity, sound and silence. Hogan's crows are more than birds; they are harbingers, witnesses, and perhaps even participants in the cycles of violence and decay that permeate both the natural and human worlds. The poem invites readers to confront these uncomfortable truths while also recognizing the fragile beauty that exists within them.

In "Crows," Linda Hogan crafts a powerful meditation on existence, drawing on the rich symbolism of these often-misunderstood birds to explore themes of power, mortality, and the tenuous boundary between humanity and the natural world. Through her evocative imagery and resonant language, Hogan captures the essence of the crows' presence—not just as creatures of the sky, but as mirrors reflecting the complexities of life and death.

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