'The Pangolin' by Marianne Moore
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1936Another armored animal--scalelapping scale with spruce-cone regularity until they
form the uninterrupted centraltail-row! This near artichoke with head and legs and grit-equippedgizzard,
the night miniature artist engineer is,yes, Leonardo da Vinci's replica--impressive animal and toiler of whom we seldom hear.Armor seems extra. But for him,the closing ear-ridge--or bare ear lacking even this smalleminence and similarly safecontracting nose and eye aperturesimpenetrably closable, are not; a true ant-eater,
not cockroach eater, who enduresexhausting solitary trips through unfamiliar ground at night,returning before sunrise, stepping in the moonlight,on the moonlight peculiarly, that the outsideedges of his hands may bear the weight and save the clawsfor digging. Serpentined aboutthe tree, he drawsaway from danger unpugnaciously,with no sound but a harmless hiss; keepingthe fragile grace of the Thomas-of-Leighton Buzzard Westminster Abbey wrought-iron vine, or
rolls himself into a ball that haspower to defy all effort to unroll it; strongly intailed, neathead for core, on neck not breaking off, with curled-in-feet.Nevertheless he has sting-proof scales; and nestof rocks closed with earth from inside, which can thusdarken.Sun and moon and day and night and man and beasteach with a splendorwhich man in all his vileness cannotset aside; each with an excellence!"Fearfull yet to be feared," the armoredant-eater met by the driver-ant does not turn back, but
engulfs what he can, the flattened sword-edged leafpoints on the tail and artichoke set leg- and body-platesquivering violently when it retaliatesand swarms on him. Compact like the furled fringed frillon the hat-brim of Gargallo's hollow iron head of amatador, he will drop and willthen walk awayunhurt, although if unintruded on,he cautiously works down the tree, helpedby his tail. The giant-pangolin-tail, graceful tool, as a prop or hand or broom or ax, tipped like
an elephant's trunkwith special skin,is not lost on this ant- and stone-swallowing uninjurableartichoke which simpletons thought a living fablewhom the stones had nourished, whereas ants had doneso. Pangolins are not aggressive animals; betweendusk and day they have not unchain-like machine-likeform and frictionless creep of a thingmade graceful by adversities, con-versities. To explain grace requiresa curious hand. If that which is at all were not forever,
why would those who graced the spireswith animals and gathered there to rest, on cold luxuriouslow stone seats--a monk and monk and monk--between the thusingenious roof supports, have slaved to confusegrace with a kindly manner, time in which to pay a debt,the cure for sins, a graceful useof what are yetapproved stone mullions branching out acrossthe perpendiculars? A sailboatwas the first machine. Pangolins, madefor moving quietly also, are models of exactness,
on four legs; on hind feet plantigrade,with certain postures of a man. Beneath sun and moon, man slavingto make his life more sweet, leaves half the flowers worth having,needing to choose wisely how to use his strength;a paper-maker like the wasp; a tractor of foodstuffs,like the ant; spidering a lengthof web from bluffsabove a stream; in fighting, mechanickedlike the pangolin; capsizing indisheartenment. Bedizened or starknaked, man, the self, the being we call human, writing-
masters to this world, griffons a dark"Like does not like like that is abnoxious"; and writes error with fourr's. Among animals, one has sense of humor.Humor saves a few steps, it saves years. Unignorant,modest and unemotional, and all emotion,he has everlasting vigor,power to grow,though there are few creatures who can make onebreathe faster and make one erecter.Not afraid of anything is he,and then goes cowering forth, tread paced to meet an obstacle
at every step. Consistent with theformula--warm blood, no gills, two pairs of hands and a few hairs--thatis a mammal; there he sits on his own habitat,serge-clad, strong-shod. The prey of fear, he, alwayscurtailed, extinguished, thwarted by the dusk, work partlydone,says to the alternating blaze,"Again the sun!anew each day; and new and new and new,that comes into and steadies my soul."
Editor 1 Interpretation
A Deep Dive into Marianne Moore's "The Pangolin"
Are you a fan of animals? Do you find the natural world fascinating and mysterious? Then Marianne Moore's poem "The Pangolin" is a must-read for you. This classic piece of poetry is a true gem that explores the beauty and complexity of one of the most unique creatures on the planet.
The Poem Itself
Before we delve into the interpretation of the poem, let's take a moment to read through it:
The Pangolin
Another armored animal -- scale
lapping scale with spruce-cone regularity until they form
the uninterrupted central
tail-row! This near artichoke with head and legs and grit-equipped
gizzard, the night miniature artist engineer is,
yes, Leonardo da Vinci's
replica --
imagining, perhaps, the scorpion,
the thunderbolt of edible
portions of the earth,
snapping back the shutter of his ear--lid:--
cape of the desolate,
Sahara, Scales ridgepole the meeting of
two worlds finials of cold fire!
Imagine it,--part
reptile, part
painter cartoonist inventor,
mathematician and
moralist rolled into one.
A lizard that lays eggs--Maternity!
The eggs are white and round and
leather-y; and like the albumen of egg-white.
This is the pangolin's
great art:
to roll itself into a ball
for defense; otherwise it would be lost
among larger animals . . .
Anger andthe suddenness of his unrolled body thick
as a man's arm and lengthened
him to four feet and
gave him a charging
attack, are all that he has
to protect himself.
A fifthorder of animals, at a higher
evolutionary stage
than the anteaters he is
like, in that he prizes
ants and termites.
Yet anteaters are edentate,
having no teeth.
The giant pangolin of Africa
also lacks them.
But fortunate in his
possession of protective
keratinous scales and in his
faculty of reflex
secretion of a foul, acrid fluid
from glands near the anus,
he has his own armour;--
and when he rolls up
completely--a living
shut-in helmet, his extreme
scales
meet like sunflower seeds,
a pattern exact as
mathematics,
he stands, a _veritable
artichoke of selfism,
not concerned with
"the world's input"
but only with protection
against harm.
What a mesmerizing piece of writing! As you read through it, you can almost feel the pangolin coming to life in your mind's eye. But what does it all mean?
Interpretation
"The Pangolin" is a fascinating poem that explores the many facets of this unique creature. At its core, the poem is an ode to the pangolin, celebrating its beauty, complexity, and resilience.
From the very first line of the poem, Moore sets the tone for the piece. She describes the pangolin as "Another armored animal," immediately drawing attention to the creature's distinct physical attributes. Moore goes on to describe the scales of the pangolin with vivid imagery, saying they lap against each other with "spruce-cone regularity until they form the uninterrupted central tail-row!" This description gives the reader a clear picture of the pangolin's appearance, and shows just how intricate and precise its scales are.
But the poem is not just a physical description of the pangolin. It also delves into the creature's personality and character. Moore describes the pangolin as a "night miniature artist engineer," comparing it to Leonardo da Vinci. This comparison is particularly apt, as it highlights the pangolin's incredible adaptability and ingenuity. The pangolin is not just a simple animal; it is a complex and multifaceted creature that is capable of great feats of engineering and creativity.
Moore also touches on the pangolin's relationship with other animals. She describes the creature as imagining "the scorpion, the thunderbolt of edible portions of the earth," highlighting the pangolin's awareness of the dangers that surround it. Despite this, the pangolin is not a creature to be trifled with. It is capable of defending itself with great ferocity, as evidenced by the line "Anger and the suddenness of his unrolled body thick as a man's arm and lengthened him to four feet and gave him a charging attack, are all that he has to protect himself."
Throughout the poem, Moore also draws attention to the pangolin's unique biology. She notes that the creature is "a lizard that lays eggs," highlighting its reptilian ancestry. She also describes the pangolin's eggs as "white and round and leather-y; and like the albumen of egg-white," drawing attention to the creature's reproductive abilities.
But perhaps the most striking aspect of the pangolin's biology is its protective armor. Moore spends a great deal of time describing the pangolin's scales and how they serve as a form of protection against predators. She notes that the pangolin is "fortunate" to possess these scales, which are made of a keratinous substance similar to human hair and nails. She also describes the pangolin's ability to secrete a foul, acrid fluid from glands near its anus, which serves as an additional defense mechanism.
Throughout the poem, Moore celebrates the pangolin's unique qualities and abilities, but she also highlights the creature's isolation. She notes that the pangolin is "not concerned with 'the world's input' but only with protection against harm." This line speaks to the pangolin's solitary nature, as well as its focus on self-preservation above all else.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "The Pangolin" is a beautiful and thought-provoking piece of poetry that celebrates the beauty and complexity of one of nature's most unique creatures. Through vivid imagery and creative language, Moore brings the pangolin to life, highlighting its many unique qualities and abilities. But the poem is not just a celebration of the pangolin; it is also a reminder of the importance of protecting and preserving the natural world around us.
So whether you're a nature lover or simply a fan of great poetry, "The Pangolin" is a must-read. It is a true gem of a poem, one that is sure to leave a lasting impression on anyone who reads it.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Pangolin: A Masterpiece of Poetry
Marianne Moore's "The Pangolin" is a masterpiece of modernist poetry that explores the complex relationship between humans and nature. The poem is a vivid portrayal of the pangolin, a scaly anteater that is native to Africa and Asia. Through her use of vivid imagery, intricate wordplay, and a unique poetic form, Moore creates a powerful and thought-provoking work that challenges readers to reconsider their relationship with the natural world.
The poem begins with a description of the pangolin's physical appearance, with Moore using a series of vivid images to paint a picture of this strange and fascinating creature. She describes the pangolin as "a creature armored in / an intricate coat of overlapping scales" and "a walking pinecone." These images create a sense of wonder and awe, as the reader is drawn into the strange and mysterious world of the pangolin.
Moore's use of language is also a key element of the poem's success. She employs a variety of poetic techniques, including alliteration, assonance, and internal rhyme, to create a musical and lyrical quality to the poem. For example, in the lines "A saurian, desiccated,/epicurean," Moore uses alliteration to create a sense of rhythm and flow, while also highlighting the pangolin's ancient and otherworldly nature.
The poem's form is also unique and innovative. Moore uses a series of short, fragmented lines that are arranged in a pattern that resembles the scales of the pangolin. This form creates a sense of movement and fluidity, as the reader's eye is drawn across the page in a way that mirrors the pangolin's own movements. The use of white space between the lines also creates a sense of pause and reflection, allowing the reader to fully absorb the poem's meaning.
One of the key themes of the poem is the relationship between humans and nature. Moore portrays the pangolin as a symbol of the natural world, a creature that is both beautiful and mysterious, but also vulnerable and endangered. She writes, "A creature of those / dappled surroundings / that thinks beyond the / possible." This line suggests that the pangolin is a creature that is in tune with its environment, able to adapt and survive in a way that humans often cannot.
At the same time, Moore also highlights the destructive impact that humans can have on the natural world. She writes, "The pangolin rolls into / a ball, a ball as hard as / nails, as if in answer to a / question." This line suggests that the pangolin is protecting itself from a perceived threat, perhaps from humans who seek to exploit or harm it. The poem thus becomes a powerful commentary on the need for humans to respect and protect the natural world, rather than exploiting it for their own purposes.
Overall, "The Pangolin" is a masterful work of poetry that explores complex themes of nature, humanity, and the relationship between the two. Through her use of vivid imagery, intricate wordplay, and a unique poetic form, Moore creates a powerful and thought-provoking work that challenges readers to reconsider their relationship with the natural world. As we continue to grapple with issues of climate change, environmental degradation, and the destruction of natural habitats, "The Pangolin" remains a timely and important reminder of the beauty and fragility of the natural world, and our responsibility to protect it.
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