Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Richard Wilbur’s "Lamarck Elaborated" is a philosophically rich meditation on the relationship between the environment and human perception, inspired by the evolutionary theories of Jean-Baptiste Lamarck. Through vivid imagery and deftly structured lines, Wilbur explores how the senses, far from being self-generated, are shaped by the external world. The poem reflects on the reciprocal influence of nature and human cognition, offering a lyrical and intellectual response to questions about the origins of experience and understanding.

The epigraph, "The environment creates the organ," encapsulates Lamarck’s principle that the needs imposed by an organism’s surroundings drive the development of its physical features. Wilbur’s poem takes this premise as a starting point for a broader reflection on how human sensory and intellectual capacities are inextricably linked to their environmental context. From sight and hearing to touch, taste, and balance, Wilbur traces the origins of human faculties back to the world that shaped them.

The poem begins by refuting an ancient Greek misconception: "The Greeks were wrong who said our eyes have rays; / Not from these sockets or these sparkling poles / Comes the illumination of our days." Here, Wilbur rejects the notion that vision originates from the eyes themselves. Instead, he attributes sight to the external world: "It was the sun that bored these two blue holes." The sun, a fundamental source of life and energy, is presented as the agent that shaped human eyes, linking the organ of vision to the larger cosmic order. This inversion of agency—from human to environment—sets the tone for the poem’s exploration of sensory origins.

Hearing is similarly attributed to the world rather than the individual: "It was the song of doves begot the ear / And not the ear that first conceived of sound." Wilbur’s imagery emphasizes the generative power of external stimuli, suggesting that the vibrant "song of doves" called the ear into being. By reversing the expected relationship between sound and hearing, the poet highlights the idea that perception arises in response to the environment’s demands, not as an inherent or independent capacity.

Touch and taste are likewise linked to external forces: "The yielding water, the repugnant stone, / The poisoned berry and the flaring rose / Attired in sense the tactless finger-bone / And set the taste-buds and inspired the nose." The tactile and gustatory senses are portrayed as adaptations to the world’s physical challenges and offerings, with experiences like the "yielding water" and "poisoned berry" shaping the body’s ability to discern and react. This dynamic interaction underscores the environment’s role as both a nurturer and a tester of human faculties.

The poem takes a more abstract turn with the line: "Out of our vivid ambiance came unsought / All sense but that most formidably dim." Here, Wilbur introduces the concept of balance, which he describes as "the shell of balance" that "rolls in seas of thought." This imagery suggests that the sense of equilibrium, while rooted in physical structures, has profound implications for intellectual and emotional stability. The idea that "the mind...taught the head to swim" links this sense to human cognition, implying that balance serves as a bridge between the physical and the mental realms.

The concluding lines expand the scope of the poem to encompass the universe and imagination: "Newtonian numbers set to cosmic lyres / Whelmed us in whirling worlds we could not know, / And by the imagined floods of our desires / The voice of Sirens gave us vertigo." These lines connect the development of the human mind to larger cosmic and intellectual forces. The "Newtonian numbers" evoke the mathematical principles governing the universe, which, when interpreted through human imagination, generate a sense of wonder and disorientation. The reference to Sirens ties this vertigo to the allure of the unknown, suggesting that human desires and aspirations are both inspired and unsettled by the vastness of the external world.

Structurally, the poem’s measured quatrains reflect the balance and order inherent in its subject matter. Wilbur’s use of rhyme and rhythm reinforces the interconnectedness of his ideas, mirroring the dynamic relationship between environment and organism. The language is precise and evocative, blending scientific and mythological references to create a rich tapestry of meaning.

"Lamarck Elaborated" is ultimately a meditation on the interplay between external forces and human faculties, exploring how the environment shapes not only our physical senses but also our intellectual and imaginative capacities. By grounding his reflections in Lamarckian principles while infusing them with lyrical depth, Wilbur invites readers to reconsider the origins of perception and the profound influence of the world on human experience. The poem’s blend of scientific insight and poetic beauty makes it a compelling exploration of the dynamic relationship between humanity and its surroundings.

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