Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Poetry, A Natural Thing" by Robert Duncan is a contemplative exploration of the nature of poetry itself, employing vivid imagery from the natural world to illustrate the inherent qualities and processes of poetic creation. Through this poem, Duncan articulates a view of poetry that transcends mere personal expression, positioning it instead as an elemental, almost instinctual force.

The poem begins by disentangling poetry from the moral dimensions of the poet's character: "Neither our vices nor our virtues further the poem." This line sets the stage for an understanding of poetry as an entity that is self-propagating, independent of the poet's personal moral standing. It emphasizes that poetry is driven by its own necessities, not by the intentions or desires of the poet.

Duncan then describes the poem as feeding "upon thought, feeling, impulse, to breed itself," likening it to a living organism that consumes experiences and emotions to sustain and replicate itself. This description underscores the dynamic and generative nature of poetry, suggesting that it possesses a kind of life force—a "spiritual urgency at the dark ladders leaping." Here, poetry is depicted as striving, reaching upward or inward, echoing the existential drive of living beings toward growth and transcendence.

The imagery of beauty as "an inner persistence toward the source" conveys the idea of poetry as an endeavor against considerable resistance, much like a salmon swimming upstream. This struggle is not just physical but metaphorical, representing the poet's pursuit of truth or inspiration against the "down-rushet of the river." The reference to "a call we heard and answer" in this context evokes a primal, almost mythic engagement with the world, suggesting that poetry responds to deep, ancient forces and instincts.

Duncan's use of natural scenes to describe the poetic process is further illustrated with two vivid pictures. First, the salmon, which does not remain in the safety of the well "where the hazelnut falls" but instead chooses the perilous journey to the falls, embodies the relentless, often blind perseverance necessary for creation. The salmon's struggle is "inarticulate," emphasizing the non-verbal, instinctive nature of this poetic drive.

The second image—a moose painted by Stubbs, shedding last year's antlers and growing new ones—symbolizes renewal and the cyclical nature of creativity. The moose, described as "forlorn moosey-faced" and wearing "new antler-buds," reflects the ongoing regeneration of the poet's tools and visions. The moose’s only beauty, according to Duncan, is to be "all moose"—a reflection on the essence of poetry to be fully and authentically itself, regardless of external perceptions of being "a little heavy, a little contrived."

Overall, "Poetry, A Natural Thing" by Robert Duncan offers a profound meditation on the essence of poetic creation, drawing parallels between the natural processes of growth, struggle, and renewal and the artistic process. Through this analogy, Duncan portrays poetry as a fundamental, almost elemental force that is continuously self-generating and evolving, driven by an inexorable call to express and exist authentically.

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