Poem Analysis - Wilderness

Initial Impression and Tone

Carl Sandburg's "Wilderness" presents a vivid and primal exploration of the human psyche, blending raw, animalistic imagery with a reflective, almost philosophical tone. The poem begins with a stark, almost brutal honesty, describing various animalistic aspects of the speaker's nature. The mood shifts subtly from ferocity to introspection, culminating in a sense of acceptance and unity with the natural world. The speaker's voice is both powerful and vulnerable, suggesting a deep connection to the wild, untamed aspects of existence.

Themes of Wildness and Humanity

The poem explores the theme of wildness within humanity, suggesting that each person contains a menagerie of primal instincts and desires. The speaker identifies with various animals, each representing different aspects of human nature. The wolf, fox, hog, fish, baboon, eagle, and mockingbird all symbolize different facets of the speaker's identity, from aggression and cunning to nourishment and aspiration. This theme is developed through vivid, sensory imagery that evokes the raw, untamed qualities of these animals, contrasting with the speaker's reflective, almost philosophical tone.

Another prominent theme is the struggle between the wild and the civilized. The speaker acknowledges the presence of these animalistic traits but also recognizes the human elements within, such as the "man-child heart" and "woman-child heart." This duality suggests a tension between the primal and the civilized, the instinctual and the rational. The speaker's acceptance of this duality, as seen in the lines "I am the keeper of the zoo: I say yes and no: I sing and kill and work," highlights the complexity of human nature and the need to embrace both aspects.

The theme of origin and destiny is also present, as the speaker reflects on the source of these animalistic traits and their ultimate destination. The repeated phrase "the wilderness will not let it go" suggests a sense of inevitability and fate, while the lines "it came from God-Knows-Where: it is going to God-Knows-Where" add a layer of mystery and uncertainty. This theme is developed through the speaker's introspective tone and the use of symbolic language, such as the "wilderness" and the "zoo" within the speaker's ribs.

Symbolism and Imagery

The poem is rich in symbolic imagery, with each animal representing a different aspect of the speaker's nature. The wolf, with its "fangs pointed for tearing gashes" and "red tongue for raw meat," symbolizes aggression and primal instincts. The fox, with its "silver-gray" color and ability to "sniff and guess," represents cunning and adaptability. The hog, with its "snout and a belly" and "machinery for eating and grunting," symbolizes nourishment and satisfaction. The fish, with its origins in the "saltblue water-gates," represents the speaker's ancient, primordial roots. The baboon, with its "clambering-clawed" and "dog-faced" appearance, symbolizes the speaker's more base, instinctual desires. The eagle and mockingbird represent the speaker's aspirations and hopes, with the eagle soaring among the "Rocky Mountains of my dreams" and the mockingbird warbling in the "underbrush of my Chattanoogas of hope."

The "zoo" within the speaker's ribs is a powerful symbol of the speaker's internal struggle and acceptance of their dual nature. The zoo represents the speaker's recognition of the various animalistic traits within, as well as the need to keep them in check. The speaker's role as the "keeper of the zoo" suggests a sense of responsibility and control, as well as a recognition of the need to embrace and accept these traits.

The "wilderness" is another significant symbol, representing the untamed, primal aspects of the speaker's nature, as well as the natural world from which these traits originate. The repeated phrase "the wilderness will not let it go" suggests a sense of inevitability and fate, as well as the speaker's acceptance of these traits as an integral part of their identity.

Conclusion

"Wilderness" is a powerful exploration of the primal and civilized aspects of human nature, using vivid, animalistic imagery to evoke the raw, untamed qualities of the speaker's identity. Through the use of symbolic language and introspective tone, Sandburg highlights the complexity of human nature and the need to embrace both the wild and the civilized. The poem ultimately suggests a sense of acceptance and unity with the natural world, as the speaker acknowledges the various animalistic traits within and recognizes their role as the "keeper of the zoo." This acceptance allows the speaker to embrace their dual nature and find a sense of harmony and balance within.