Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Linda Hogan’s "Turtle" is a rich meditation on the interconnectedness of life, the cyclical nature of existence, and the wisdom embedded in the natural world. Hogan, a Chickasaw poet deeply attuned to environmental and Indigenous themes, uses the figure of the turtle—a creature often associated with longevity, the Earth, and ancestral knowledge—to explore ideas of memory, transformation, and feminine strength. Through lyrical imagery and evocative symbolism, the poem invites readers to engage with the ancient rhythms of nature and the profound lessons they impart.

The poem opens with a dreamlike invocation: "I’m dreaming the old turtle back." This line suggests a conscious effort to summon ancestral wisdom or reconnect with a primordial force. The phrase old turtle immediately evokes the image of an ancient being, one that carries the weight of history and knowledge. In many Indigenous cultures, the turtle symbolizes the Earth itself—steady, enduring, and nurturing. By dreaming the turtle back, Hogan positions herself within a tradition of storytelling and spiritual reflection, where dreams serve as portals to deeper truths.

As the turtle emerges, Hogan describes its movement with deliberate slowness: "He walks out of the water, slow, that shell with the water on it the sun on it, dark as the wet trunks of hackberry trees." The repetition of water and sun emphasizes the elemental forces at play, highlighting the turtle’s connection to both aquatic and terrestrial realms. The comparison of the turtle’s shell to wet trunks of hackberry trees roots the imagery in the natural world, suggesting a harmony between the creature and its environment. This blending of water, earth, and sunlight underscores the turtle’s role as a symbol of life’s continuity and balance.

Hogan then shifts her focus to the world beneath the water’s surface: "In water the world is breathing, in the silt. There are fish and their blood changes easy warm to cold." This description of the underwater world as breathing imbues it with a sense of vitality and interconnectedness. The mention of fish whose blood changes easy warm to cold reflects the adaptability and fluidity of life, as well as the delicate balance between different states of being. The silt, often associated with the foundational layers of the earth, becomes a metaphor for the hidden depths of life and memory, where transformation is constant and inevitable.

Returning to the turtle, Hogan reveals its inner life: "And the turtle, small yellow bones of animals inside are waking to shine out from his eyes." This line suggests that the turtle carries within it the remnants of other creatures, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all life forms. The small yellow bones waking inside the turtle symbolize ancestral spirits or memories that persist within living beings. The idea that these bones shine out from his eyes positions the turtle as a vessel of wisdom, its gaze reflecting the accumulated experiences of countless generations.

The poem takes a communal turn as Hogan calls for action: "Wake up the locusts whose dry skins are still sleeping on the trees." The locusts, creatures known for their cyclical emergence, represent renewal and the passage of time. Their dry skins sleeping on the trees suggest the remnants of past lives or experiences that are waiting to be reawakened. This call to wake up is not just directed at the locusts but also at the readers, urging them to reconnect with the natural world and their own histories.

Hogan’s invitation becomes more personal and direct: "We should open his soft parts, pull his shells apart and wear them on our backs like old women who can see the years back through his eyes." Here, the act of wearing the turtle’s shells becomes a powerful symbol of embodying the wisdom and resilience of the natural world. The comparison to old women suggests a matriarchal lineage, where age and experience are sources of strength and insight. By seeing the years back through his eyes, these women gain access to a deeper understanding of time, history, and the cyclical nature of life.

The poem’s closing lines reinforce this sense of transformation and empowerment: "Something is breathing in there. Wake up, we are women. The shells are on our backs. We are amber, the small animals are gold inside us." The repetition of wake up serves as both a literal and metaphorical call to awareness. It acknowledges the latent power within women, connecting their identities to the ancient and enduring spirit of the turtle. By declaring we are amber, Hogan invokes the image of fossilized resin, a substance that preserves life from the past while shining with a golden glow. The small animals inside the women symbolize the living memories and ancestral spirits they carry, transforming their bodies into vessels of history and continuity.

Structurally, "Turtle" is composed in free verse, with a fluid, meditative rhythm that mirrors the poem’s themes of natural cycles and transformation. Hogan’s use of vivid, sensory imagery draws readers into a world where the boundaries between human and non-human, past and present, are porous and interconnected. The poem’s tone is reflective and reverent, celebrating the wisdom of the natural world and the resilience of women who embody its lessons.

At its core, "Turtle" is a celebration of the enduring connections between nature, ancestry, and identity. Through the figure of the turtle, Hogan explores the ways in which life’s wisdom is passed down through generations and embedded in the natural world. The poem invites readers to awaken to these connections, to recognize the ancient rhythms that shape their lives, and to embrace the transformative power of memory and history. By intertwining the personal and the universal, Hogan crafts a lyrical meditation on the cycles of life and the enduring strength found in the natural world and within ourselves.

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