Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

James Galvin's "Totem" explores themes of permanence, change, and the intricate relationship between humans and nature. Through vivid imagery and reflective narrative, Galvin captures the essence of a solitary and enduring symbol in the landscape—a dead spruce spar—while juxtaposing it with the cyclical nature of agricultural work and the inevitability of decay.

The poem begins with the speaker riding a '23 Farmall tractor, performing the repetitive task of hay raking on a hot afternoon. This mundane activity serves as a backdrop for the speaker's contemplations about the dead spruce spar on the ridge behind the house: "From here it pierces the / skyline, asking for it, like a column of smoke." The spar stands out against the skyline, an unmistakable marker that seems to challenge the elements, asking to be struck down.

The speaker marvels at the spar's resilience: "It must be a full hundred feet / taller than anything living." Despite its prominent height and visibility, the spar remains untouched by lightning, an "easy miracle" that God might have granted. The spar, described as bright against the sky and seemingly transformed into quartz, represents a striking and almost supernatural presence in the natural world.

However, the speaker prefers the immediate, tangible task of hay raking: "I'd rather pull my hat down and watch the teeth of the hay rake making / windrows, turning the meadow into a patch of corduroy." The imagery of the meadow being turned into corduroy by the hay rake emphasizes the ordered and methodical work of farming, contrasting with the wild and untamed presence of the spar. The speaker's imagination also transports him to fantastical scenarios, such as driving on the moon, highlighting a blend of practicality and dreaminess.

Each December, the speaker contemplates cutting down the spar but is thwarted by the difficulty of reaching it: "It takes till noon on snowshoes just to / top the ridge." The journey is arduous, and the spar eludes easy access, disappearing behind smaller pines as if the forest itself is conspiring to keep it hidden. This elusive quality of the spar adds to its mystique and the speaker's fascination with it.

The speaker's repeated attempts to locate and cut down the spar culminate in a sense of futility and acceptance: "I walk too long, / climb another and see it somewhere else, as if the forest were moving it around." The spar's ability to seemingly shift locations within the forest reinforces its role as a totem—an enduring symbol that resists the speaker's efforts to control or eliminate it.

Returning home in the early dark, the speaker reflects on the natural order of things: "Perhaps I see some elk or a couple of fool / hens. I decide death by fire is reassuring to a forest." This reflection suggests an understanding of the natural cycle of life and death, where fire serves as a cleansing and renewing force within the ecosystem.

The final lines of the poem, "This year I didn't try / to find the snag. This year, everything that died, died twice," convey a profound sense of resignation and acknowledgment of the inevitable cycles of nature. The repeated deaths—both literal and metaphorical—highlight the continual process of decay and rebirth that defines the natural world.

In summary, "Totem" by James Galvin is a contemplative poem that explores the tension between human endeavors and the enduring presence of nature. Through the imagery of the dead spruce spar and the repetitive task of hay raking, Galvin captures the beauty and resilience of the natural world while reflecting on the limitations and aspirations of human effort. The poem invites readers to consider the intricate connections between life, death, and the symbols that persist in the landscape, standing as silent witnesses to the passage of time.

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