Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "Bestiary U.S.A.: Moose," Anne Sexton presents the moose as a majestic and almost mythic creature, one that embodies both the grandeur and the tragedy of the natural world encroached upon by human civilization. The poem juxtaposes the moose's ancient, primal existence with the modern world's relentless expansion, capturing a sense of loss and displacement.

Sexton opens by addressing the moose as an "American Archangel," a figure of both power and grace. The choice of "Archangel" suggests a being of divine or supernatural significance, elevating the moose beyond its status as merely an animal. However, this exalted being is "going," indicating its gradual disappearance, a victim of progress and development. The comparison of the moose's body to "a moving van" underscores its immense size and presence, but also hints at the inevitability of its displacement as houses and highways "turn[] [it] in." The encroachment of human structures on natural spaces forces the moose out of its habitat, turning its existence into a tragic metaphor for the loss of wilderness.

The poem then shifts to a more personal reflection, as Sexton recalls the moose's presence "before [her] house was," emphasizing its long-standing connection to the land, predating human habitation. The moose's image as a trophy, with "antlers for hat racks" in her grandfather's home, symbolizes the way humans have commodified and reduced this once-living being to a mere decorative object. Yet, even as a trophy, the moose retains a haunting presence; Sexton imagines "the rest of [its] body somewhere outside / the wall merely asking for an invitation." This suggests that the spirit or essence of the moose cannot be fully contained or erased by human actions—it remains a part of the landscape, waiting to be acknowledged.

In the present, Sexton envisions the moose standing "in a field in Maine, / hopelessly alive." The phrase "hopelessly alive" conveys a deep sense of sorrow and futility, as the moose's continued existence is rendered meaningless in a world that no longer has space for it. Its antlers, described as "like seaweed," evoke a sense of being adrift, entangled in a hostile environment. The moose's face, likened to "a wolf's death mask," further reinforces its status as a symbol of death and decay, a once-powerful creature now reduced to a mere shadow of itself.

The moose's physical features are described with a mix of awe and melancholy: its "mouth a virgin," its "nose a nipple," its "legs muscled up like knitting balls," and its "neck mournful as an axe." These images blend the primal and the domestic, highlighting the moose's raw, untamed nature while also imbuing it with a sense of vulnerability and sadness. The "virgin" mouth and "nipple" nose suggest purity and innocence, while the "mournful" neck likened to an axe implies the inevitability of its fate—decapitation, perhaps, or the severing of its life force by human hands.

The poem concludes with Sexton expressing a desire to invite the moose into her garden, a gesture that signifies both a longing for connection and a recognition of the moose's rightful place in the world. The garden, traditionally a symbol of cultivation and human control over nature, becomes a space where the wild and the domestic might coexist. Yet, the invitation is tinged with a sense of impossibility—can such a majestic, untamed creature truly find a place within the confines of human boundaries?

"Bestiary U.S.A.: Moose" is a poignant meditation on the tensions between the natural world and human civilization. Sexton's portrayal of the moose as both a powerful and tragic figure reflects the broader environmental concerns of her time, as well as a personal sense of loss for a world that is rapidly disappearing. The poem invites readers to consider the impact of their own lives on the creatures and landscapes that once thrived independent of human interference, and to recognize the value of what remains before it, too, is gone.

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