Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Linda Hogan’s “River Calls Them” is a meditation on transformation, mortality, and the delicate intersections between life and death. Using the life cycle of frogs as a central metaphor, Hogan explores the fragile boundary between innocence and the inexorable pull of nature’s cycles. The poem resonates with themes of growth, the transitory nature of existence, and the often unconscious human role in the disruption of natural life.

The poem opens with an image that captures both wonder and the inevitable transformation of life: “Tadpoles in a jar / a shock of legs sprouted / tail swallowed into / bones growing from nothing.” The depiction of tadpoles, confined within a jar, reflects both the fascination and control that humans—particularly children—exert over nature. The phrase “a shock of legs sprouted” conveys the suddenness and almost miraculous quality of growth, while “tail swallowed into / bones growing from nothing” illustrates the metamorphosis from one state of being to another. This transformation, though natural, is presented in a confined, artificial space, hinting at the limitations imposed by human curiosity.

The emergence of “dark nipples of / toes creeping out, / one at a time” emphasizes the minute, intricate details of development. Hogan draws attention to the physicality of change, highlighting the gradual process through which these creatures evolve. Yet, this focus on minute growth also foreshadows the vulnerability that accompanies transformation. The phrase “And the sudden need for mud” suggests an innate pull toward the natural world, a return to the elements from which life arises. The mud represents both life-sustaining moisture and a symbolic connection to the earth, a refuge that the confined tadpoles instinctively seek.

However, this natural trajectory is disrupted by human interference: “Puffed throats and night / signals young hunters / and frogs are bathed in the salt / of child hands.” Here, Hogan juxtaposes the frogs’ natural behaviors—calling out at night—with the predatory instincts of children. The “salt of child hands” adds a layer of irony to the image: what should be innocent and pure (the hands of children) becomes a source of harm, as the salt from their skin dries out the frogs’ delicate, moisture-dependent bodies. This interaction reflects the often unintentional cruelty of human engagement with the natural world, particularly in the context of childhood innocence mingled with a lack of understanding.

The description of the frogs’ demise continues with a stark, unflinching portrayal: “moist skin dried in too much sun, / starved beside a heap of dead flies.” The frogs, creatures of water and dampness, are subjected to desiccation under the sun, a symbol of exposure and vulnerability. The irony of their death “beside a heap of dead flies”—their potential food—underscores the unnatural circumstances of their fate. They die not from predation or natural causes, but from confinement and the inability to access what they need to survive, a subtle critique of the way human curiosity often disregards the needs of other living beings.

The poem then shifts its focus to the symbolic resonance of the frogs’ death: “At funerals / their eyes are gold / summer gazing at land.” Hogan imbues the frogs with a dignity in death, their “gold” eyes suggesting a lingering connection to the vibrancy of life and the warmth of summer. This description elevates the frogs beyond mere specimens, framing them as symbols of a broader natural cycle. Their eyes, reflecting the season of their death, seem to hold a gaze that extends beyond their immediate fate, connecting their brief lives to the broader rhythms of the earth.

The final lines carry a somber weight: “cold toes turned into twigs. / Stiff frogs are dropped into earth / damp and waiting.” The transformation of “cold toes” into “twigs” suggests a return to nature, as if the frogs, in death, are becoming part of the earth itself. The stiffness of their bodies emphasizes the finality of death, yet the “earth / damp and waiting” hints at a cyclical return, where even in death, life finds a way to begin anew. The earth’s dampness mirrors the frogs’ original need for moisture, suggesting that while their lives were cut short, they are ultimately reclaimed by the natural world to which they belonged.

Structurally, Hogan employs a free verse form that allows the poem to flow with the fluidity of thought and observation. The lack of punctuation and the enjambment between lines mimic the continuous, often unbroken processes of life and death in nature. This form also mirrors the speaker’s contemplative tone, inviting readers to engage deeply with the images and themes without interruption.

At its core, “River Calls Them” reflects on the tension between human curiosity and the sanctity of natural life. The river, though not explicitly described in detail, serves as a metaphorical undercurrent throughout the poem, symbolizing both the flow of life and the inevitable pull toward death. The title itself suggests that the river, as a natural force, calls all living things back to it, reinforcing the idea of an inescapable return to the earth.

The poem also touches on broader themes of loss and the fragility of existence. The frogs’ brief lives and untimely deaths serve as a microcosm for the fleeting nature of all life, while the children’s role as both observers and inadvertent agents of harm reflects the complex relationship between humanity and the environment. Hogan’s depiction of the frogs’ funerals and their golden eyes suggests a reverence for life, even in its most vulnerable forms, and a recognition of the interconnectedness of all living things.

In “River Calls Them,” Linda Hogan offers a poignant meditation on life’s fragility and the quiet dignity of nature’s smallest creatures. Through vivid imagery and subtle commentary, the poem invites readers to reflect on their own relationship with the natural world and the ways in which even the most seemingly insignificant lives are part of a larger, enduring cycle.

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