Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Long Story" by Stephen Dobyns unfolds as a rich narrative that explores the genesis of human violence, the relinquishment of power by the natural world, and the evolution of language as a tool for storytelling, justification, and self-deception. Through the allegorical recounting of Cain's murder of Abel, Dobyns delves into the complexities of human nature, desire for dominion, and the consequent distancing from the innocence of the animal kingdom and the harmonious existence in the Garden of Eden.

The poem begins with a speculative, almost whimsical scene immediately following the expulsion from Eden, where the animal kingdom is momentarily uncertain about the new hierarchy. This setting quickly turns dark with the act of fratricide—Cain killing Abel—marking a foundational moment of violence that not only establishes human dominion but also signifies the loss of innocence and the beginning of a more complex moral and social order.

Dobyns' depiction of the animals' reactions to this act of violence—the bear, the tiger, the porcupine, and notably, the cat’s observation—serves as a commentary on power and the perception of leadership. The animals, recognizing the extremity of Cain’s desire to assert dominance through violence, choose to withdraw, prioritizing silence and self-preservation over engagement with the emerging human propensity for violence and manipulation.

The relinquishment of speech by the animals symbolizes a deeper, more profound resignation: a retreat from the emerging human world where language and power are intertwined with violence and deceit. This choice reflects a wisdom in recognizing the dangerous ambitions that drive human actions, suggesting that with great desire comes great risk, not only to oneself but to the harmony of the world.

Cain's subsequent rationalization of his deed, as he "began to assemble the words about what Abel had done and what he had been forced to do in return," marks the birth of narrative as a means to justify one's actions, reshape reality, and mitigate guilt. The story of Cain and Abel, then, becomes a metaphor for the human condition, where language evolves not just to communicate but to obfuscate, persuade, and dominate.

The poem concludes with a reflection on the legacy of Cain's act, suggesting that each generation contributes to the ongoing narrative of human existence, attempting to "get it right at last." This cycle of storytelling, with its "deft evasions and sly contradictions," is portrayed as an inherent aspect of human nature. The imagery of the sun rising and setting, and leaves fluttering "like a million frightened hands," underscores the perpetual struggle between the desire to advance and the acknowledgment of our inherent flaws and contradictions.

"Long Story" stands as a contemplation on the origins of human complexity, the power of language, and the eternal human endeavor to understand and justify our place in the world. Dobyns crafts a narrative that is both timeless and immediate, challenging the reader to consider the ways in which our stories, and the language we use to tell them, shape our understanding of ourselves and our capacity for both creation and destruction.

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