Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"The Intruder" by Carolyn Kizer is a vivid and complex poem that explores themes of nature, maternal instinct, and the delicate balance between compassion and revulsion. Through the intimate and unsettling scenario of a mother rescuing an injured bat brought in by a cat, Kizer delves into the paradoxes of empathy and the harsh realities of the natural world.

The poem opens with a striking depiction of the mother’s preference for the wild over the tame: "My mother—preferring the strange to the tame: / Dove-note, bone marrow, deer dung, / Frog’s belly distended with finny young." This characterization sets the tone for the mother's affinity for the raw and untamed aspects of nature. Her instinctive love for the "wild and natural" leads her to pick up the "fluttering, bleeding bat" that the cat laid at her feet.

Kizer’s detailed description of the bat, from its “soft mouse body” to the “hard feral glint” in its eyes, emphasizes the duality of the creature. The mother's initial reaction, finding the bat "rather sweet," is quickly complicated by the discovery of lice nesting within its wings. This moment of revulsion contrasts sharply with her initial tenderness, illustrating the conflict between empathy and the grotesque realities of the wild.

The poem continues with a visceral description of the bat's struggle and the mother’s subsequent actions. The imagery of the bat’s wings coming down “like a small black shutter” and the cat’s careful yet predatory response highlight the cycle of nature’s brutality and care. The cat, which "closed on the soiled webs" and carried them out, represents a return to the natural order, where survival and predation coexist.

The remaining blood puddle on the floor becomes a powerful symbol of the mother's "tender, wounding passion" for the wild. This blood, a tangible remnant of her attempt to bridge the gap between human compassion and the untamed world, underscores the complexities of her emotions. The mother's actions in the final lines, where she "washed and washed the pity from her hands," signify a desire to cleanse herself of the conflicting feelings brought about by this encounter.

"The Intruder" masterfully captures the tension between the allure of the wild and the discomfort it can bring. Kizer’s use of rich, sensory language and sharp imagery creates a vivid portrayal of the mother's character and her deep connection to nature. Through this intimate scene, the poem explores the broader themes of empathy, the natural world’s inherent violence, and the complicated interplay between human tenderness and the reality of life in the wild.

In essence, the poem reflects on how encounters with the natural world can evoke profound and often conflicting emotions. The mother's instinctive compassion, met with the harsh truth of the bat's parasitic burden, serves as a poignant reminder of the beauty and brutality that coexist in nature. Kizer's exploration of these themes through the lens of a personal and vividly described experience invites readers to reflect on their own connections to the wild and the complexities of their empathetic responses.

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