Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Dead Horse in Field" by Robert Penn Warren is a stark and meditative poem that contemplates death, decay, and the impersonal processes of nature. Through the imagery of a thoroughbred's corpse and the creatures that come to feed on it, Warren delves into the themes of impermanence, the natural cycle, and the search for meaning or divinity in the face of mortality.

The poem begins by describing the scene of the dead horse, lying "half-buried / In barberry bushes red-fruited." The horse, once a symbol of grace and strength, now lies with its "left foreleg shattered below knee," the result of a rifle shot to the heart. This image of brokenness and finality sets the tone for the poem, emphasizing the abruptness with which life can end. The use of the .30-30 rifle, a tool of man, indicates a human intervention in the horse's death, suggesting that this might have been a merciful act to end its suffering. However, the poem doesn't dwell on this aspect, instead shifting its focus to the aftermath of death.

Warren moves to the observation of nature's response to the horse's death. "Gorged crows" rise from the scene, their ragged departure hinting at the gruesome work they've done. The speaker notes that the horse's "eyes / Were already gone—that / The beneficent work of crows." Here, the word "beneficent" is used with a bitter irony, implying that the crows, in their scavenging, have performed a service, though not out of kindness but as part of the natural order. The absence of the horse's eyes, which now "see / Down the track of pure and eternal darkness," symbolizes a transition into death and the unknown.

A week after the death, the decomposition process has intensified, making it difficult for the speaker to approach the carcass due to the "sweet stink." The speaker's reaction, spitting on the "wagon mudhole / Hidden by leaves" that caused the accident, is almost childlike in its frustration and impotence. This action captures the senselessness and randomness of accidents, as well as the speaker's emotional response to an uncontrollable event. The death of the horse is depicted as an unjust and unwarranted loss, yet one that must be accepted.

The poem then shifts its attention to the natural cycle, as "buzzards" appear, descending in "the slow, concentric, downward pattern of vortex." The language used to describe their movement, "carving" and "wing-glint / On wing-glint," elevates the scavengers to a status of beauty and inevitability. From a distance, through glasses, the speaker observes the "squabble and pushing, the waggle of wattle-red heads." The buzzards and crows are fulfilling their roles in the ecosystem, turning the scene of death into one of life and consumption.

As evening approaches, the speaker reflects on the buzzards and crows, seeing them "swing black in nature's flow and perfection." The imagery of the sunset, with its "sad carmine," adds a layer of melancholy to the scene. The speaker asserts, "Forgiveness / Is not indicated. It is superfluous." This suggests a recognition of the natural world as indifferent and beyond the moral constructs of right and wrong. The birds are "what they are," and their actions are neither to be condemned nor forgiven. They exist within the cycle of life and death, each playing their part.

The contemplation continues as the speaker projects into the future, envisioning the transformation of the horse's body. "How long before I go back to see / That intricate piece of / Modern sculpture, white now." The carcass, reduced to bones, becomes an object of art, "assuming in stasis / New beauty." The description of the skeleton as "modern sculpture" suggests a kind of detachment and objectivity in viewing death as part of an aesthetic process. This transformation is further extended with the imagery of "green twine of vine," which "begins / Its benediction," covering the bones in a tender, almost sacred manner. The vine, personified, "thinks it is God," embodying the idea of life continuing over and beyond death, wrapping itself around what once was.

The poem ends with a rhetorical question, challenging the reader to "think of some ground on which that may be gainsaid." This closing line invites reflection on the nature of existence, the inevitability of decay, and the possibility of finding divinity or meaning in the cycles of nature. Warren leaves us with an image of the indifferent yet beautiful processes of the natural world, where life, death, and rebirth are interconnected in a continuous cycle that is beyond human judgment or control.

"Dead Horse in Field" is a meditation on mortality and the relentless forward march of nature. Warren's exploration of the imagery surrounding the dead horse, the crows, the buzzards, and the eventual growth of new life on the skeletal remains serves as a powerful reminder of the impermanence of life and the impersonal beauty of the natural order. The poem challenges us to confront the reality of death and to consider the ways in which life continues, indifferent to individual suffering, yet full of its own mysterious vitality.

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...