Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Richard Hugo's poem "Plans for Altering the River" explores the tension between human ambition and the natural world, highlighting the often destructive consequences of mankind's attempts to control and reshape the environment. Through the lens of a speaker who champions the alteration of a river for industrial and economic purposes, Hugo critiques the arrogance and shortsightedness that often accompany such projects.

The poem opens with a meeting where supporters of the river-altering plan are asked to raise their hands, a symbolic gesture that underscores the simplicity with which complex and potentially harmful decisions are made. The speaker's confident assertion that "water never complains" and that it "runs where you tell it" reflects a common human misconception that nature is pliant and obedient to human will. This attitude is emblematic of a broader cultural mindset that views nature as a resource to be exploited rather than a living entity with its own intrinsic value.

The speaker's description of the river as something that can be easily manipulated—flooding grain or being "pinched by geometric banks"—emphasizes the reduction of a dynamic, natural system into something controllable and predictable. The "graphic depiction" of the plan further illustrates the abstraction and detachment with which the river is viewed, reduced to lines and shapes on paper rather than a vibrant, living force.

As the poem progresses, the speaker recounts setbacks to the project—a shipwreck carrying cement and a workers' strike—yet these obstacles are presented as minor inconveniences rather than warnings or opportunities for reflection. The speaker's focus remains on the progress of the project, and when these issues are resolved, the project is back on track, leading to the speaker's receipt of an award. The "handsome plaque" becomes a symbol of human pride and accomplishment, but it also hints at the emptiness of such accolades when they are earned through the domination and alteration of nature.

The poem takes a turn when the speaker is confronted by those who oppose the alteration of the river. These "Johnnys-come-lately" represent a shift in perspective, advocating for the preservation and restoration of the natural environment. Their vision includes "flowers on the bank," a "park on Forgotten Island," and the return of "cedar and salmon"—symbols of a harmonious relationship with nature. The speaker's dismissive tone towards these ideas reveals a deep disconnect between the industrial mindset and the emerging ecological consciousness.

The poem's climax occurs with the description of a wild festival celebrating the river's runoff, a moment that contrasts sharply with the speaker's earlier vision of control and order. The festival, with its "display floats on fire" and "forest dance under the stars," represents a celebration of the river's natural cycles and the beauty of its unaltered state. The children's song, "Old stranger, we're going to alter, to alter, alter the river," serves as both a taunt and a prophecy, suggesting that the river—and perhaps nature itself—will ultimately resist and overturn the efforts to control it.

The final line, "Just when the water was settled and at home," underscores the irony of the situation. The speaker believes that the river has been tamed and made "at home" within the confines of human design, but the river's true nature is to flow freely, untamed and wild. The poem suggests that attempts to alter the river—or any aspect of nature—are ultimately futile and that the true beauty and power of the natural world lie in its resistance to human control.

Hugo's poem serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of environmental manipulation and the hubris of assuming that nature can be easily bent to human will. Through the speaker's journey from confidence to confusion, "Plans for Altering the River" critiques the shortsightedness of industrial progress and celebrates the enduring strength and mystery of the natural world.

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