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Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained | |||
"The Turtle (2)" by Robert Bly is a deeply evocative poem that captures the essence of nature's cycles, the passage of time, and the unseen wonders that lie just beyond the realm of human awareness. Through the metaphor of a turtle emerging from the water, Bly explores themes of transformation, mystery, and the sacredness inherent in the natural world. This poem, rich with imagery and symbolism, invites the reader to contemplate the connections between life's visible manifestations and its hidden depths. The poem opens with the image of a turtle, "shiny" as it emerges from the water and ascends a rock, imbuing this simple act with a sense of reverence and awe. Bly's comparison of the turtle to a saint's shining body elevates the creature from its earthly confines, suggesting a transcendence or spiritual purity in its movement. This imagery conjures a sense of the sacred in the natural, where even the most ordinary creatures carry within them a luminosity akin to holiness. The reference to "swift turtle wings" and the crossing of barriers introduces themes of transformation and journey. Though turtles are earthbound and known for their slowness, the poetic invocation of wings speaks to the soul's capacity to transcend physical limitations and explore realms beyond the visible. This journey brings about a renewal of vision—"And found new eyes"—highlighting the transformative power of encountering the unknown or the divine. Bly then shifts the focus to the human, with an "old man" faltering, which contrasts the earlier image of the turtle's purposeful movement. This contrast between the vitality of the natural world and human frailty emphasizes the passage of time and the inevitable decline that accompanies aging. Yet, in the discovery of "holes in black earth" by walkers, there is a suggestion of continuity and the cycle of life, as these holes may hint at new beginnings hidden within the end. The snail's ascent up a "wet trunk glistening / Like an angel-flight trailing long black banners" further develops the theme of the sacred in the mundane. The snail, another creature emblematic of slowness and deliberation, is depicted in a moment of beauty and grace, suggesting that the divine can be found in even the smallest of nature's creations. The poem concludes with the unseen "huge turtle eggs / Lying inland on the floor of the old sea," a powerful image that speaks to the hidden mysteries and the enduring nature of life. These eggs, untouched and undiscovered, symbolize potential and the continuation of life cycles that occur beyond human perception. Bly's mention of the "old sea" evokes a sense of deep time and the layers of history that underpin the present moment, reminding the reader of the vast and intricate web of life that sustains and surrounds us. "The Turtle (2)" is a meditation on the interplay between visibility and invisibility, between the temporal and the eternal. Through the lens of the natural world, Robert Bly invites us to see beyond the surface, to recognize the sacredness that permeates existence, and to ponder the profound mysteries that lie at the heart of life. This poem is a testament to the power of poetry to reveal the wonder and depth of the world around us, urging us to look closer, to appreciate the beauty and complexity of nature, and to remain open to the transformative possibilities of encountering the unknown.
| Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...ELEGY FOR THE GIANT TORTOISES by MARGARET ATWOOD GIANT TORTOISE by ANTHONY HECHT THE TURTLE SHRINE NEAR CHITTAGONG by NAOMI SHIHAB NYE THE PHOENIX AND THE TORTOISE by KENNETH REXROTH CLOSING TIME AT THE SAN DIEGO ZOO by KAREN SWENSON TO A BOX TURTLE by JOHN UPDIKE |
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