Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Talking Blues" by Calvin Forbes is a vibrant and playful poem that uses the figure of a raccoon navigating city life to explore themes of survival, adaptability, and the clash between nature and urban environments. The poem's conversational style and rhythmic quality draw on the blues tradition, infusing the narrative with a musicality that enhances its themes and cultural references.

The poem starts with a direct address to the raccoon, cautioning it to "be cool," setting the tone for a humorous yet pointed dialogue between the speaker and the raccoon. The mention of the raccoon being spotted on Broadway eating barbecue immediately immerses the reader in a vivid urban setting and portrays the raccoon as a creature out of its element yet trying to adapt to city life.

Forbes cleverly plays with public perceptions and myths surrounding raccoons: "Some people claim raccoon you pretty / Swear raccoon tame like a kitty." This acknowledgment of the raccoon’s deceptive appearance introduces the motif of surface versus reality, a key theme in understanding urban survival. The following line, "But racoon bites you if you get too close," serves as a reminder of the inherent wildness and unpredictability of the raccoon, mirroring the often unseen dangers of the city.

The sighting of the raccoon on Lenox Avenue, "Stealing milk from a baby," further illustrates the raccoon’s desperate survival tactics and its mischievous, somewhat notorious reputation. This scene not only highlights the raccoon's adaptability but also its vulnerability within an urban landscape that is not its natural habitat.

The humorous misidentification of a black cat that turns out to be "nothing but old raccoon" continues the theme of mistaken identity and the raccoon’s chameleon-like ability to blend into the urban backdrop, surviving on the fringes of human society.

As the poem progresses, the speaker attempts to "school" the raccoon, suggesting it is "too country" for the city and warning it about the competition it faces from the city's rats, "Big as you and just as ornery." This advice reflects the harsh realities of urban life where even the wild creatures must contend with challenges that might surpass those of their natural environments.

The community’s indifference to the raccoon’s plight is captured in the line, "Nobody in Harlem studying you raccoon," emphasizing the raccoon's insignificance and isolation in the bustling city. This line encourages the raccoon to mind its own business, a survival tactic necessary for navigating the complexities and dangers of urban life.

The closing warning, "Look what playing possum got the possum," serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of failing to adapt properly to one's environment. It's a caution against complacency and a call to be vigilant and wise in the face of challenges.

Overall, "Talking Blues" is an engaging and insightful reflection on the interplay between nature and urban life, encapsulated in the figure of the raccoon—a symbol of both adaptability and vulnerability. Calvin Forbes uses the narrative to highlight broader social themes and the nuanced dynamics of city living through a blend of humor, cultural commentary, and vivid urban imagery.

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