Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In Mary Oliver's "Dogfish," the complexities of life-emotional, existential, and biological-unfold through a narrative that weaves the observations of a dogfish with reflections on the human condition. The poem is a layered tapestry of experiences and desires, offering a contemplative journey that balances the brutality of nature with the aspirations of the soul.

The poem introduces the dogfish with a sense of curiosity and wonder, describing it as "Some kind of relaxed and beautiful thing / kept flickering in with the tide." The description sets the tone for a dialogue between brutality and beauty, nature and aspiration. The dogfish is "Black as a fisherman's boot, with a white belly," possessing eyes that would require the drawing of a smile "which was rough / as a thousand sharpened nails." These vivid images oscillate between a creature that could be considered both menacing and captivating.

The speaker transitions to personal reflections, expressing a desire for transformation: "I wanted the past to go away, I wanted / to leave it, like another country; I wanted / my life to close, and open / like a hinge, like a wing." This yearning is juxtaposed with the dogfish's simplicity, a creature bound by its instincts and biological directives. The speaker desires to "hurry into the work of my life," grappling with the notion of identity and the existential thirst to know one's place in the world. "Whoever I was, I was / alive for a little while," the speaker concedes, echoing the ephemerality that both humans and dogfish share.

The poem returns to the dogfish, emphasizing its predatory nature as it approaches three smaller fish: "Three small fish, I don't know what they were, / huddled in the highest ripples / as it came swimming in again, effortless, the whole body / one gesture, one black sleeve / that could fit easily around / the bodies of three small fish." This imagery provokes a sense of inevitable dread, drawing parallels with the speaker's own vulnerabilities and challenges.

Then comes the confessional: "Also I wanted / to be able to love. And we all know / how that one goes, don't we?" Love is presented as a goal fraught with complications, akin to the dogfish's instinctual yet destructive pursuit. The poem ventures further into the realm of human experience, encapsulating the existential dread and hope that characterize life: "Mostly, I want to be kind. And nobody, of course, is kind, / or mean, / for a simple reason." The wisdom here lies in recognizing the intricate motivations that govern behavior, both in the natural world and the human domain.

Oliver captures the relentless cycle of life and death in the concluding stanzas, warning the smaller fish of the "hopeless future that is / bulging toward them." Yet, in these lines lies an urging for agency, a call to action that resonates beyond the watery scene to touch upon the human experience: "And probably, / if they don't waste time / looking for an easier world, / they can do it."

"Dogfish" is a meditation on the complexities of existence, uniting the organic and emotional realms through a rich narrative that neither sentimentalizes nor condemns. Oliver achieves a rare balance, painting a world that is both savage and enlightening, urging us to confront and, perhaps, appreciate the multifaceted nature of being.

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