Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Richard Hugo's "Near Kalalock" is a poem that vividly captures the intersection of the natural world and human experience, evoking a powerful sense of place and the transient nature of life. The poem explores themes of mortality, the passage of time, and the often harsh realities of nature through a series of stark and evocative images.

The poem begins with the line, "Throw sand dollars and they sail alive," immediately placing the reader in a coastal setting where the simple act of tossing sand dollars takes on a symbolic resonance. The sand dollars, often associated with fragility and death, are depicted as "alive" as they sail through the air, suggesting a momentary suspension of the inevitable decay that follows. This image sets the tone for the poem's exploration of life and death, as the natural world moves inexorably forward.

Hugo quickly introduces a more visceral image with "One dead salmon slides to immediate maggots," emphasizing the rapidity with which life transforms into death and decay. The salmon, once a symbol of vitality, becomes food for maggots, its "long starch" or lifeless body consumed by nature's relentless cycle. The phrase "beyond the sonar stab" suggests the salmon’s life has moved past its natural instincts and sensory experiences, now rendered inert in the "green too thick for signals from our eyes." This line reinforces the theme of mortality, highlighting the limits of human perception in the face of nature’s complex and often brutal processes.

As the poem progresses, the imagery shifts to the human experience of the natural world, with the speaker and others reflecting on their relationship with the environment. "Tan foam tumbles and we call the bourbon in us wind" suggests a blending of the natural elements with human emotions and experiences. The wind, which can both soothe and unsettle, is equated with the effects of alcohol, blurring the lines between the external world and the internal state of the speaker.

The poem then introduces a sense of nostalgia and existential reflection: "Remember when our eyes were ocean floors and the sun was dissonant and cold, unlike today." Here, Hugo invites the reader to recall a time when the world felt different, perhaps more distant and unfathomable, like the deep ocean floor. The "dissonant and cold" sun contrasts with the present moment, implying a change in perception or emotional state. This shift suggests a growing awareness of the passage of time and the inevitability of change.

The imperative "Scream at waves go back you fools or die" conveys a sense of frustration or helplessness in the face of nature’s power, while also hinting at a deeper existential anxiety. The waves, symbolic of the relentless march of time and natural forces, are personified as fools who continue on their path toward destruction. The speaker’s command to "go back" reflects a desire to halt this inevitable process, though it is ultimately futile.

As the poem nears its conclusion, the imagery becomes more intense and foreboding: "Now the shore is speared by ancient orange, let a trickle say a beach is bleeding." The "ancient orange" suggests a sunset or the encroaching night, while the bleeding beach evokes a sense of violence and loss. The trickle of blood on the beach is a subtle but powerful image, symbolizing the slow but certain erosion of life and the landscape itself.

The final lines of the poem, "Tonight the sea will come like the eyes of all cats in the world stampeding," create a haunting and surreal image. The sea, often a symbol of the unconscious or the unknown, is likened to the "eyes of all cats," creatures known for their predatory nature and mysterious gaze. The word "stampeding" suggests a sudden and overwhelming force, as if all the latent power of nature will be unleashed in the night, unstoppable and terrifying.

"Near Kalalock" is a poem that masterfully intertwines the natural and the human, capturing the awe, fear, and inevitable decline that define both the landscape and the lives of those who inhabit it. Through rich, layered imagery and a tone that oscillates between reverence and resignation, Hugo invites the reader to confront the often uncomfortable truths about life, death, and the passage of time.

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