The Turtle
The Turtle - meaning Summary
Power in a Small Creature
A speaker addresses a listener obsessed with a pet turtle, imagining its small gestures as murderous intent and forecasting its future domination. The poem shifts from domestic observation to grand myth, turning the turtle into a world-bearing, invincible figure who will overturn cities and carry the listener to conquest. It mixes playful anthropomorphism with serious reverence, ending by naming the turtle a wise, faithful companion.
Read Complete AnalysesNot because of his eyes, the eyes of a bird, but because he is beaked, birdlike, to do an injury, has the turtle attracted you. He is your only pet. When we are together you talk of nothing else ascribing all sorts of murderous motives to his least action. You ask me to write a poem, should I have a poem to write, about a turtle. The turtle lives in the mud but is not mud-like, you can tell it by his eyes which are clear. When he shall escape his present confinement he will stride about the world destroying all with his sharp beak. Whatever opposes him in the streets of the city shall go down. Cars will be overturned. And upon his back shall ride, to his conquests, my Lord, you! You shall be master! In the beginning there was a great tortoise who supported the world. Upon him All ultimately rests. Without him nothing will stand. He is all wise and can outrun the hare. In the night his eyes carry him to unknown places. He is your friend.
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