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FORTY-FIVE, by             Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography

"Forty-Five" by Hayden Carruth is a contemplative and vividly descriptive poem that captures a moment of connection between the human world and the natural world. Through the lens of a personal observation, Carruth explores themes of intimacy, serenity, and the universal desire for connection and peace.

The poem begins with the speaker recounting a time when he was forty-five, lying beside a pool of "green hazy springtime water." This setting is not only a backdrop but also a space for reflection and observation, a tranquil environment that invites the speaker to slow down and engage deeply with the natural world around him.

The focus of the poem is on the salamanders the speaker watches as they couple in the water. Carruth describes their movements as "lazy" and "aimless," drifting in and out of the shadows, embodying a sense of peace and contentment within their environment. The moment when two salamanders "dart together and clasp one another belly to belly the way we do" is a poignant depiction of intimacy that transcends species, highlighting the shared behaviors and needs that bind all living creatures.

Carruth's comparison of the salamanders' coupling to human tenderness and vigor serves to blur the lines between human and non-human worlds, suggesting a shared experience of love and connection. The salamanders' ability to "let go and drift away / at peace" after their moment of closeness reflects a state of harmony and satisfaction that the speaker finds compelling and, perhaps, aspirational.

The poem concludes with the speaker acknowledging that the "green pool" is both the salamanders' world and, for a while, was his own. This realization emphasizes the poem's meditation on the moments when humans can fully immerse themselves in nature and experience a sense of belonging and peace within it. The speaker's observation of the salamanders becomes a conduit for reflection on the beauty of simple, natural acts of connection and the tranquility that can be found in the natural world.

"Forty-Five" is a quiet yet profound exploration of the intersections between human and natural realms, the moments of connection that can arise from observation and presence, and the universal themes of intimacy, peace, and the desire to be at one with the world around us. Through its focused and serene imagery, Carruth invites readers to consider the depth of our connection to nature and the shared experiences that unite all forms of life.


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