Poem Analysis - Bats Ultrasound

An Echolocation of Sound and Meaning

Les Murray's "Bat's Ultrasound" is a dense and evocative poem that attempts to capture the sensory experience of a bat using its unique form of echolocation. The poem blends scientific observation with playful language, creating a sense of wonder and mystery surrounding these creatures. The tone is initially descriptive and somewhat detached, but it shifts into a more whimsical and even spiritual register as the poem progresses, reflecting the almost otherworldly nature of the bat's perception. The poem ends with a sense of awe and respect for the bat and its unique place in the world. The form of the poem mimics the "ping" of the bat's sonar, it is short and sharp like the creature's soundings.

The World Through Sonic Eyes

One prominent theme in the poem is the exploration of alternative sensory experiences. Murray invites the reader to imagine the world not through sight, as humans predominantly do, but through sound. He portrays the bat's face as "one tufty crinkled ear," emphasizing the primacy of hearing over sight. The phrase "queertonal hunting zone above highest C" suggests a realm of perception beyond human capacity, a world constructed from echoes and sonic maps. The poem uses aural imagery to convey the bat's experience, replacing visual descriptions with sounds like "drone re to their detailing tee" and the repeated vowel sounds of the later stanzas. This forces the reader to consider the richness and complexity of a sensory world different from their own.

Nature's Miniature Mysteries

Another theme is the poem's celebration of the natural world's hidden wonders. The bat, often misunderstood and even feared, is presented as a marvel of evolution and adaptation. The description "darkness in miniature" captures its elusive nature, while the lines about its "fine teeth bared to sing" and its "rare ear" suggest a creature of both beauty and power. The poem avoids romanticizing the bat, acknowledging its predatory nature ("Insect prey") and its association with darkness ("Sleeping-bagged in a duplex wing with fleas"). However, it ultimately elevates the bat to a symbol of the hidden wonders that exist all around us, if only we are willing to look and listen.

Echoes of Divinity

The poem subtly explores the theme of spirituality and the potential for transcendence. The shift in tone towards the end of the poem, with the repeated vowel sounds and the invocation of "Yahweh," suggests a connection between the bat's echolocation and a form of divine perception. The sounds mimic the animal's sonar as well as a spiritual chant. The phrase "aura our orrery, our eerie ü our ray, our arrow" could be interpreted as a description of the bat's sensory world, but it also evokes a sense of cosmic order and spiritual significance. The final line, "A rare ear, our aery Yahweh," is particularly striking, suggesting that the bat's unique form of perception might offer a glimpse into the divine. The poem doesn't explicitly state that the bat is divine, but it hints at the possibility that its sensory abilities connect it to something larger than itself.

The Sonic Symbolism of the Bat

The most recurring image in the poem is the bat's ultrasound itself. This isn't just a literal description of the bat's echolocation; it's a symbol of alternative perception, hidden knowledge, and the potential for understanding the world in new ways. The repetition of vowel sounds and the use of onomatopoeia mimic the sounds of the bat's sonar, creating a sensory experience for the reader. The ultrasound represents the bat's ability to "see" in the dark, to navigate through a world that is invisible to humans. It also suggests that there are hidden depths to reality, waiting to be discovered by those who are willing to listen and look beyond the surface.

A Final Ping of Insight

In conclusion, "Bat's Ultrasound" is a rich and complex poem that uses the bat's unique sensory experience as a lens through which to explore themes of perception, nature, and spirituality. Murray's masterful use of language and imagery creates a sense of wonder and mystery, inviting the reader to consider the world from a different perspective. The poem ultimately suggests that there are hidden wonders all around us, if only we are willing to listen and look beyond the surface, perhaps finding echoes of the divine in the most unexpected places.