Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"A Little Language" by Robert Duncan is a reflective and contemplative poem that explores the intrinsic capacity for communication within the animal kingdom, challenging anthropocentric views on language and expression. Through this meditation, Duncan critiques the separation between human and animal communication as proposed by traditional religious and philosophical stances, such as those attributed to Dante, and celebrates the universal impulse to communicate as a shared attribute that blurs the lines between man and beast.

The poem begins by setting up a contrast between the poet's personal observations and the philosophical assertions of Dante, who argued that animals do not require speech and that nature "abhors the superfluous." Duncan counters this by pointing to the fluent communication he observes in his cat, using this example to anchor his argument that the desire and ability to communicate is a natural and essential part of existence. This introduction not only challenges the idea that speech is unnecessary or unique to humans but also sets the stage for exploring the broader communicative synchronicity in nature.

Duncan then expands this narrative to include whales and wolves, whose "choral soundings of the sea and air" exhibit a form of eloquence and harmony that deeply moves the human observer. This observation serves to further dissolve the supposed barrier between human language and animal communication, illustrating a shared aesthetic and emotional resonance that transcends species boundaries.

The poet criticizes "Dante’s religion" for seeking to "set Man apart" and for constructing a worldview that essentially alienates humanity from its own natural instincts—its "animal communication." By doing so, Duncan argues, such perspectives deny the fundamental and innate connections humans have with the natural world. He asserts that in moments of "animal communication," humans are most "true, immediate," suggesting that authenticity in human experience is rooted in these primal, instinctive interactions.

As Duncan delves deeper into the sensory experiences that connect humans with animals, he describes how humans are attuned to the nuances of nature—from the specific "voices" among a concert of sounds to the vivid "flick of significant red" in a mass of color. These sensory experiences, Duncan suggests, are forms of language in themselves, where even colors communicate with each other through the observer's perception, echoing the interconnectedness of all living beings through shared sensory languages.

The poem concludes on a philosophical note, contemplating the evolution of taste and the complexity of scents, which Duncan playfully describes as a "pun of scents in what makes sense." This line captures the essence of the poem: the fundamental and often overlooked connections between how animals (including humans) perceive and make sense of the world through various forms of communication. The mention of "Myrrh," which historically signifies deep spiritual and religious symbolism, underscores the sanctity Duncan perceives in these everyday moments of communication, aligning the sensory experiences with a form of spiritual revelation.

In essence, "A Little Language" is a lyrical advocacy for recognizing the communicative bonds that humans share with other creatures. It invites a reevaluation of what constitutes language, urging a broader, more inclusive understanding that celebrates the commonalities across different forms of life. Through his poetic exploration, Duncan not only challenges traditional separations but also affirms the deep, instinctual connections that bind the human spirit to the natural world.

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