Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Anne Sexton's "Bestiary U.S.A.: Earthworm" is a contemplative exploration of the earthworm, a creature often overlooked and underestimated, yet vital to the ecosystem and full of mysterious resilience. Through vivid and almost mystical imagery, Sexton delves into the nature of the earthworm, its role in the cycle of life, and the strange, almost miraculous ability it has to survive even when cut in half. The poem touches on themes of life, death, regeneration, and the enigmatic aspects of existence that challenge human understanding.

The poem begins by addressing the earthworm as a "Slim inquirer," immediately attributing a sense of curiosity and purpose to the creature. This description suggests that the earthworm is not merely a passive inhabitant of the earth, but an active participant in the ongoing process of reworking the soil, engaging in a kind of quiet, persistent inquiry into the world beneath the surface. The phrase "while the old fathers sleep" evokes a sense of continuity and tradition, as if the earthworm is carrying on the work of generations past, tending to the earth that the "old fathers" have left behind.

Sexton then paints a vivid picture of the earthworm's subterranean world, describing it as a "grocery store there down under the earth / and it is well stocked with broken wine bottles, / old cigars, old door knobs and earth." This image of a grocery store beneath the ground is both whimsical and profound, suggesting that the earthworm has access to a wealth of discarded human artifacts, repurposing them in the ongoing process of soil regeneration. The inclusion of "broken wine bottles" and "old cigars" adds a touch of the human and the decadent, contrasting with the simplicity and purity of the "great brown flour" of the earth that the worm "kisses each day." This personification of the earthworm's relationship with the soil highlights its intimate connection to the earth, as if the creature is in a constant state of reverence for the ground it inhabits.

The imagery of "dark stars in the cool evening" that the earthworm "fondles... like killer birds' beaks" introduces a more ominous and mysterious tone to the poem. These "dark stars" could symbolize the unknown and the dangerous, with the earthworm interacting with forces or elements beyond human comprehension. The comparison to "killer birds' beaks" suggests a certain violence or predation in the natural world, where even the most seemingly insignificant creatures are involved in a larger, perhaps more sinister, cosmic order.

Sexton then shifts the focus to a more direct inquiry about the earthworm's biology and its seemingly miraculous ability to regenerate: "But what I want to know is why when small boys / dig you up for curiosity and cut you in half / why each half lives and crawls away as if whole." This question touches on one of the earthworm's most fascinating and puzzling traits—the ability to survive and continue moving even after being severed. The image of "small boys" digging up earthworms "for curiosity" evokes the innocence and cruelty of childhood, where the simple act of discovery can lead to unintentional harm.

The speaker's inquiry deepens with the question, "Have you no beginning and end? Which heart is / the real one? Which eye the seer?" Here, Sexton is not only questioning the physical properties of the earthworm but also delving into philosophical questions about identity, continuity, and the nature of life itself. The earthworm's ability to live after being cut in half challenges conventional notions of life and death, prompting the speaker to wonder about the creature's internal structure and the essence of its being. The idea of having "no beginning and end" suggests a cyclical, continuous existence that defies human understanding of linear time and mortality.

The poem concludes with a reflection on the "infinite plan" that allows the earthworm to be "severed and rise from the dead like a gargoyle / with two heads." This image of the earthworm as a "gargoyle with two heads" is both grotesque and powerful, likening the creature's regenerative ability to a kind of monstrous resurrection. The gargoyle, often seen as a guardian figure in architecture, here symbolizes the earthworm's role as a protector and preserver of the earth, albeit in a form that is both unsettling and awe-inspiring. The phrase "infinite plan" suggests that there is a larger, perhaps divine, order at work that governs even the most humble creatures, allowing them to transcend the limitations of physical destruction.

"Bestiary U.S.A.: Earthworm" is a meditation on the resilience and mystery of life, using the earthworm as a symbol of regeneration and the continuity of existence. Sexton's poem invites readers to consider the deeper, often overlooked aspects of the natural world and to question the boundaries between life and death, identity and multiplicity. Through her exploration of this seemingly simple creature, Sexton reveals the complexity and wonder inherent in all forms of life, challenging us to look beyond the surface and appreciate the intricate, often hidden, processes that sustain the world around us.

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