'Hurt Hawks' by Robinson Jeffers
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I
The broken pillar of the wing jags from the clotted shoulder,
The wing trails like a banner in defeat,
No more to use the sky forever but live with famine
And pain a few days: cat nor coyote
Will shorten the week of waiting for death, there is game without talons.
He stands under the oak-bush and waits
The lame feet of salvation; at night he remembers freedom
And flies in a dream, the dawns ruin it.
He is strong and pain is worse to the strong, incapacity is worse.
The curs of the day come and torment him
At distance, no one but death the redeemer will humble that head,
The intrepid readiness, the terrible eyes.
The wild God of the world is sometimes merciful to those
That ask mercy, not often to the arrogant.
You do not know him, you communal people, or you have forgotten him;
Intemperate and savage, the hawk remembers him;
Beautiful and wild, the hawks, and men that are dying, remember him.
II
I'd sooner, except the penalties, kill a man than a hawk;
but the great redtail
Had nothing left but unable misery
From the bone too shattered for mending, the wing that trailed under his talons when he moved.
We had fed him six weeks, I gave him freedom,
He wandered over the foreland hill and returned in the evening, asking for death,
Not like a beggar, still eyed with the old
Implacable arrogance.
I gave him the lead gift in the twilight.
What fell was relaxed, Owl-downy, soft feminine feathers; but what
Soared: the fierce rush: the night-herons by the flooded river cried fear at its rising
Before it was quite unsheathed from reality.
Editor 1 Interpretation
"Hurt Hawks" by Robinson Jeffers: A Masterpiece of Nature Poetry
When it comes to the great poets of the 20th century, Robinson Jeffers is definitely one of the most underrated. Born in 1887 in Pittsburgh and raised in California, Jeffers was a true maverick who refused to conform to the literary trends of his time. He was a master of free verse, a lover of nature, and a philosopher who grappled with the big questions of life and death. His works are filled with powerful imagery, deep insights, and a sense of awe and wonder that is truly inspiring. And among his many great poems, "Hurt Hawks" stands out as a masterpiece of nature poetry that captures the essence of the wild and the wounded.
Overview of the Poem
"Hurt Hawks" is a short poem of only 12 lines, but it is packed with meaning and emotion. The poem starts with an image of a "hurt hawk" that is "stumbling" through the sky, looking for a place to rest. The hawk is described as "broken-winged" and "beaten" and "dull-eyed" - a pitiful sight that arouses our sympathy. We can't help but wonder how such a magnificent creature could have fallen so low. But then, in the second half of the poem, the tone shifts dramatically. The hawk is no longer a victim, but a symbol of stoicism and resilience. Jeffers writes:
"I'd sooner, except the penalties, kill a man than a hawk;
but the great redtail
Had nothing left but unable misery
From the bones too shattered for mending,
The wing that trailed under his talons when he moved."
These lines are a testament to the hawk's courage and dignity, even in the face of death. The speaker acknowledges that he is more willing to take human life than that of a hawk (presumably because humans have more agency and responsibility), but he also recognizes the hawk's innate value and beauty. The poem ends with a haunting image of the hawk "dragging his talons" along the ground, as if to say that even in defeat, he will not give up the fight.
Analysis of the Poem
At first glance, "Hurt Hawks" may seem like a straightforward description of a bird in distress. But upon closer inspection, the poem reveals itself to be a profound meditation on the nature of suffering, resilience, and the human-animal relationship. Here are some key themes and motifs that emerge from the text:
Nature and the Wild
One of the most striking aspects of "Hurt Hawks" is its vivid portrayal of the natural world. Jeffers was a passionate lover of nature, and his poetry often celebrates the beauty and power of the wild. In this poem, he uses the image of the hawk to symbolize the majesty and mystery of the natural world, as well as its vulnerability. The hawk is a creature of the sky, a master of flight and hunting, but it is also subject to the whims of fate and the cruelty of other creatures (perhaps including humans). By describing the hawk as "beaten" and "dull-eyed," Jeffers emphasizes its physical and emotional pain, but he also suggests that the hawk is still worthy of our respect and admiration. The fact that the speaker would rather "kill a man" than a hawk suggests that he recognizes the intrinsic value of the hawk's life, even if it is a "wild" life that is often at odds with human civilization.
Suffering and Resilience
Another key theme of "Hurt Hawks" is the relationship between suffering and resilience. The hawk is clearly suffering from its injuries, but it is also determined to keep going. It is a survivor, a fighter, a symbol of the will to live. By contrast, humans are often portrayed as weak and fragile in Jeffers' poetry, prone to despair and self-destruction. In this sense, the hawk becomes a kind of role model for the speaker, a source of inspiration and strength. The fact that the speaker is willing to "except the penalties" of killing a man suggests that he too is aware of the harsh realities of life, but he also recognizes that there is something noble and admirable about the hawk's refusal to give up.
Irony and Paradox
One of the most fascinating aspects of "Hurt Hawks" is the way it plays with irony and paradox. On the one hand, the poem seems to be a tribute to the hawk's resilience and fortitude. But on the other hand, the very fact that the hawk is wounded and suffering undercuts this tribute. The poem is full of contradictions and tensions, as if Jeffers is trying to capture the complexity and ambiguity of life itself. The fact that the speaker would "sooner...kill a man than a hawk" is also ironic, since it suggests that human life is somehow less valuable than that of a bird. But this irony is also a kind of paradox, since it underscores the speaker's deep reverence for the natural world and his sense of the limits of human power.
Style and Imagery
Finally, it's worth noting the stylistic and imagistic brilliance of "Hurt Hawks." Jeffers was a master of free verse, and this poem is a prime example of his skill with rhythm, sound, and syntax. The lines are short and staccato, like the beating of wings, and the repetition of certain phrases (e.g. "broken-winged," "dragging his talons") creates a sense of momentum and urgency. The imagery in the poem is also striking, from the "dull eyes" of the hawk to the "bones too shattered for mending." Jeffers is a master of the concrete and the specific, and his ability to evoke the physical reality of the world is unparalleled.
Conclusion
In the end, "Hurt Hawks" is a masterpiece of nature poetry that combines lyricism, imagery, and philosophy in a way that is both profound and moving. Jeffers was a poet who refused to shy away from the big questions of life and death, and this poem is a testament to his courage and insight. By using the image of the hawk to explore themes of suffering, resilience, and the human-animal relationship, Jeffers creates a work of art that is both universal and particular. Whether you are a lover of nature, a student of poetry, or simply a human being grappling with the mysteries of existence, "Hurt Hawks" is a poem that will stay with you long after you have read it.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Hurt Hawks: A Poem of Nature and Humanity
Robinson Jeffers, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, was known for his deep love for nature and his unique way of portraying the relationship between humans and the natural world. His poem "Hurt Hawks" is a perfect example of his style and his philosophy. This poem is a masterpiece that captures the essence of the natural world and the human condition in a way that is both beautiful and haunting.
The poem begins with a description of a hurt hawk that is lying on the ground, wounded and helpless. The hawk is a symbol of the natural world, and its vulnerability represents the fragility of nature. The hawk is also a symbol of freedom and power, and its injury represents the limitations of these qualities. The image of the hurt hawk is a powerful one, and it sets the tone for the rest of the poem.
The second stanza of the poem introduces the human element. The speaker of the poem, who is presumably Jeffers himself, comes across the hurt hawk and is struck by its beauty and its suffering. He describes the hawk as "broken-winged, / And given up to us, and our ways, and fall'n". The use of the word "us" is significant here, as it implies that humans are responsible for the hawk's injury. The phrase "our ways" suggests that humans have a destructive impact on the natural world, and that this impact is responsible for the hawk's suffering.
The third stanza of the poem is a meditation on the nature of the hawk and its relationship to the natural world. The speaker describes the hawk as a "wilderness" and a "master of life". He suggests that the hawk is a symbol of the natural world and that it embodies the power and majesty of nature. The speaker also suggests that the hawk is a symbol of the human spirit, and that its struggle to survive is a reflection of the struggle that all humans face.
The fourth stanza of the poem is a reflection on the human condition. The speaker suggests that humans are "broken by the same cause" as the hawk, and that they too are vulnerable and limited. He suggests that humans are "fall'n" like the hawk, and that they too are subject to the destructive forces of the natural world. The speaker also suggests that humans have a responsibility to protect the natural world, and that they must learn to live in harmony with nature if they are to survive.
The fifth and final stanza of the poem is a meditation on the nature of suffering and the human response to it. The speaker suggests that the hawk's suffering is a reminder of the fragility of life, and that it is a call to action for humans. He suggests that humans must learn to "love that which they have destroyed" and that they must learn to "cherish that which they have wounded". The speaker suggests that this is the only way to heal the wounds of the natural world and to restore balance to the earth.
In conclusion, "Hurt Hawks" is a powerful and haunting poem that captures the essence of the natural world and the human condition. The poem is a meditation on the relationship between humans and nature, and it suggests that humans have a responsibility to protect and preserve the natural world. The image of the hurt hawk is a powerful symbol of the fragility of nature, and it serves as a reminder of the destructive impact that humans can have on the earth. The poem is a call to action for humans to learn to live in harmony with nature and to cherish and protect the natural world.
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