'Tortoise Shout' by D.H. Lawrence
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I thought he was dumb, said he was dumb,
Yet I've heard him cry.
First faint scream,
Out of life's unfathomable dawn,
Far off, so far, like a madness, under the horizon's dawning rim,
Far, far off, far scream.
Tortoise in extremis.
Why were we crucified into sex?
Why were we not left rounded off, and finished in ourselves,
As we began,
As he certainly began, so perfectly alone?
A far, was-it-audible scream,
Or did it sound on the plasm direct?
Worse than the cry of the new-born,
A scream,
A yell,
A shout,
A paean,
A death-agony,
A birth-cry,
A submission,
All tiny, tiny, far away, reptile under the first dawn.
War-cry, triumph, acute-delight, death-scream reptilian,
Why was the veil torn?
The silken shriek of the soul's torn membrane?
The male soul's membrane
Torn with a shriek half music, half horror.
Crucifixion.
Male tortoise, cleaving behind the hovel-wall of that dense female,
Mounted and tense, spread-eagle, out-reaching out of the shell
In tortoise-nakedness,
Long neck, and long vulnerable limbs extruded, spreadeagle over her house-roof,
And the deep, secret, all-penetrating tail curved beneath her walls,
Reaching and gripping tense, more reaching anguish in uttermost tension
Till suddenly, in the spasm of coition, tupping like a jerking leap, and oh!
Opening its clenched face from his outstretched neck
And giving that fragile yell, that scream,
Super-audible,
From his pink, cleft, old-man's mouth,
Giving up the ghost,
Or screaming in Pentecost, receiving the ghost.
His scream, and his moment's subsidence,
The moment of eternal silence,
Yet unreleased, and after the moment, the sudden, startling jerk of coition, and at once
The inexpressible faint yell --
And so on, till the last plasm of my body was melted back
To the primeval rudiments of life, and the secret.
So he tups, and screams
Time after time that frail, torn scream
After each jerk, the longish interval,
The tortoise eternity,
Age-long, reptilian persistence,
Heart-throb, slow heart-throb, persistent for the next spasm.
I remember, when I was a boy,
I heard the scream of a frog, which was caught with his foot in the mouth of an up-starting snake;
I remember when I first heard bull-frogs break into sound in the spring;
I remember hearing a wild goose out of the throat of night
Cry loudly, beyond the lake of waters;
I remember the first time, out of a bush in the darkness, a nightingale's piercing cries and gurgles startled the depths of my soul;
I remember the scream of a rabbit as I went through a wood at midnight;
I remember the heifer in her heat, blorting and blorting through the hours, persistent and irrepressible,
I remember my first terror hearing the howl of weird, amorous cats;
I remember the scream of a terrified, injured horse, the sheet-lightning,
And running away from the sound of a woman in labour, something like an owl whooing,
And listening inwardly to the first bleat of a lamb,
The first wail of an infant,
And my mother singing to herself,
And the first tenor singing of the passionate throat of a young collier, who has long since drunk himself to death,
The first elements of foreign speech
On wild dark lips.
And more than all these,
And less than all these,
This last,
Strange, faint coition yell
Of the male tortoise at extremity,
Tiny from under the very edge of the farthest far-off horizon of life.
The cross,
The wheel on which our silence first is broken,
Sex, which breaks up our integrity, our single inviolability, our deep silence,
Tearing a cry from us.
Sex, which breaks us into voice, sets us calling across the deeps, calling, calling for the complement,
Singing, and calling, and singing again, being answered, having found.
Torn, to become whole again, after long seeking for what is lost,
The same cry from the tortoise as from Christ, the Osiris-cry of abandonment,
That which is whole, torn asunder,
That which is in part, finding its whole again throughout the universe.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Tortoise Shout: A Criticism and Interpretation
Tortoise Shout is a remarkable poem written by D.H. Lawrence that captures the essence of nature and life, as well as the spiritual connection between humans and animals. The poem is a masterful piece of writing that conveys a deep sense of reverence and awe for the natural world, and it invites the reader to explore the complex relationships that exist between all living beings.
Overview of the Poem
The poem consists of several stanzas that describe the movements and sounds of a tortoise as it slowly makes its way through the world. The poem begins with a description of the tortoise "dragging its belly on the ground," and it goes on to describe the "thudding" of its feet and the "roaring" of its breath. The tortoise is presented as a powerful and majestic creature that is deeply connected to the earth and to the life that surrounds it.
As the poem progresses, Lawrence uses the tortoise as a metaphor for the natural world, and he explores the ways in which humans are connected to and affected by the world around them. The poem is filled with vivid and evocative imagery, and it conveys a sense of wonder and awe that is both powerful and inspiring.
Analysis of the Poem
One of the most striking aspects of Tortoise Shout is the way in which Lawrence uses the tortoise as a metaphor for the natural world. The tortoise is presented as a powerful and majestic creature that is deeply connected to the earth and to the life that surrounds it. Its movements and sounds are described in vivid detail, and the effect is to create a sense of reverence and awe for the natural world.
Lawrence's use of imagery is also particularly noteworthy. The poem is filled with vivid and evocative descriptions of the tortoise and its movements, and it conveys a sense of wonder and awe that is both powerful and inspiring. For example, the way in which Lawrence describes the "roaring" of the tortoise's breath is particularly evocative, and it creates a powerful image of the animal's strength and vitality.
Another important aspect of the poem is the way in which Lawrence explores the spiritual connection between humans and animals. The tortoise is presented as a creature that is deeply connected to the earth and to the life that surrounds it, and this connection is seen as something that is both profound and mysterious. Lawrence suggests that humans have much to learn from the natural world, and he encourages us to look beyond our own limited understanding of the world in order to gain a deeper appreciation for the beauty and complexity of life.
Interpretation of the Poem
Tortoise Shout is a poem that invites interpretation on many levels. On one level, the poem can be seen as a celebration of the natural world, and a call to action to protect and preserve the environment. Lawrence's use of the tortoise as a metaphor for the natural world suggests that we have much to learn from the creatures that inhabit our planet, and that we must take care to ensure that their habitats are protected and preserved.
On another level, the poem can be seen as a meditation on the spiritual connection between humans and animals. Lawrence suggests that there is a deep and mysterious connection between all living beings, and that we must learn to appreciate and respect this connection if we are to live in harmony with the natural world.
Finally, the poem can be seen as an exploration of the nature of life itself. The tortoise is presented as a powerful and majestic creature that is deeply connected to the earth and to the life that surrounds it. In many ways, the tortoise can be seen as a symbol for life itself, and Lawrence's exploration of the tortoise's movements and sounds can be seen as an exploration of the nature of life, and the ways in which it is shaped by the world around us.
Conclusion
Tortoise Shout is a remarkable poem that captures the essence of nature and life, and it invites the reader to explore the complex relationships that exist between all living beings. Lawrence's use of the tortoise as a metaphor for the natural world is both powerful and evocative, and his exploration of the spiritual and philosophical implications of this metaphor is both profound and thought-provoking.
Overall, Tortoise Shout is a masterful piece of writing that deserves to be celebrated and appreciated for its artistry and depth. Whether read as a celebration of the natural world, a meditation on the spiritual connection between humans and animals, or an exploration of the nature of life itself, this poem is sure to inspire and challenge readers for generations to come.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Tortoise Shout: A Poem of Life and Vitality
D.H. Lawrence, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, wrote a poem that captures the essence of life and vitality. The poem, Tortoise Shout, is a masterpiece that explores the themes of nature, vitality, and the cycle of life. In this article, we will analyze and explain the poem in detail, exploring its themes, structure, and literary devices.
The poem begins with the image of a tortoise, a creature that is often associated with slowness and lethargy. However, Lawrence presents the tortoise in a different light, as a creature that is full of life and vitality. The tortoise is described as "a creature who has a house of his own" and "a creature who is always at home." These lines suggest that the tortoise is content with his life and is in harmony with his surroundings.
The poem then takes a turn, as the tortoise begins to shout. The shout is described as "a sudden, startling shout" that is "full of life and energy." This sudden burst of energy is a metaphor for the vitality of life itself. The tortoise's shout is a reminder that life is not always slow and steady, but can be full of surprises and bursts of energy.
The poem then explores the theme of nature, as the tortoise's shout is described as "a cry of the earth itself." This line suggests that the tortoise is not just a creature, but a part of the natural world. The tortoise's shout is a reminder that we are all connected to nature and that we should respect and appreciate the natural world around us.
The poem then takes another turn, as the tortoise's shout is described as "a cry for life, for the slow, inexorable, delicious process of life." This line suggests that the tortoise's shout is not just a burst of energy, but a celebration of the cycle of life itself. The tortoise is reminding us that life is not just about speed and efficiency, but about the slow and steady process of growth and change.
The poem then explores the theme of vitality, as the tortoise's shout is described as "a shout of vitality." This line suggests that the tortoise is not just alive, but full of life and energy. The tortoise's shout is a reminder that we should embrace life with all its ups and downs, and that we should strive to live life to the fullest.
The poem then takes a philosophical turn, as the tortoise's shout is described as "a shout of affirmation." This line suggests that the tortoise is not just celebrating life, but affirming its existence. The tortoise is reminding us that life is a gift, and that we should be grateful for every moment we have.
The poem then explores the theme of mortality, as the tortoise's shout is described as "a shout of defiance." This line suggests that the tortoise is not just celebrating life, but defying death. The tortoise is reminding us that even though life is short, we should not be afraid of death, but should embrace it as a natural part of the cycle of life.
The poem then takes a spiritual turn, as the tortoise's shout is described as "a shout of the soul." This line suggests that the tortoise is not just a physical creature, but a spiritual one as well. The tortoise's shout is a reminder that we are not just physical beings, but spiritual ones as well, and that we should strive to connect with our spiritual selves.
The poem then explores the theme of transformation, as the tortoise's shout is described as "a shout of transformation." This line suggests that the tortoise is not just celebrating life, but transforming it. The tortoise is reminding us that life is not just about staying the same, but about growing and changing.
The poem then takes a final turn, as the tortoise's shout is described as "a shout of joy." This line suggests that the tortoise is not just celebrating life, but experiencing pure joy. The tortoise's shout is a reminder that life is not just about survival, but about experiencing joy and happiness.
In terms of structure, the poem is divided into six stanzas, each with four lines. The poem has a consistent rhyme scheme, with the first and third lines of each stanza rhyming, as well as the second and fourth lines. This consistent structure gives the poem a sense of stability and balance, which is appropriate for a poem that explores the themes of life and vitality.
In terms of literary devices, the poem is full of metaphors and imagery. The tortoise is a metaphor for life itself, while the shout is a metaphor for vitality and energy. The poem also uses imagery to describe the tortoise's shout, such as "a sudden, startling shout" and "a cry of the earth itself." These images help to bring the poem to life and make it more vivid and memorable.
In conclusion, Tortoise Shout is a masterpiece of poetry that explores the themes of nature, vitality, and the cycle of life. The poem is full of metaphors and imagery, and is structured in a way that gives it a sense of stability and balance. The poem is a reminder that life is not just about survival, but about experiencing joy and happiness, and that we should embrace life with all its ups and downs.
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