'Baby Tortoise' by D.H. Lawrence


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You know what it is to be born alone,
Baby tortoise!
The first day to heave your feet little by little from the shell,
Not yet awake,
And remain lapsed on earth,
Not quite alive.

A tiny, fragile, half-animate bean.

To open your tiny beak-mouth, that looks as if it would never open,

Like some iron door;
To lift the upper hawk-beak from the lower base
And reach your skinny little neck
And take your first bite at some dim bit of herbage,
Alone, small insect,
Tiny bright-eye,
Slow one.

To take your first solitary bite
And move on your slow, solitary hunt.
Your bright, dark little eye,
Your eye of a dark disturbed night,
Under its slow lid, tiny baby tortoise,
So indomitable.
No one ever heard you complain.

You draw your head forward, slowly, from your little wimple

And set forward, slow-dragging, on your four-pinned toes, Rowing slowly forward.
Whither away, small bird?
Rather like a baby working its limbs,
Except that you make slow, ageless progress
And a baby makes none.

The touch of sun excites you,
And the long ages, and the lingering chill
Make you pause to yawn,
Opening your impervious mouth,
Suddenly beak-shaped, and very wide, like some suddenly gaping pincers;
Soft red tongue, and hard thin gums,
Then close the wedge of your little mountain front,
Your face, baby tortoise.

Do you wonder at the world, as slowly you turn your head in its wimple
And look with laconic, black eyes?
Or is sleep coming over you again,
The non-life?

You are so hard to wake.

Are you able to wonder?
Or is it just your indomitable will and pride of the first life
Looking round
And slowly pitching itself against the inertia
Which had seemed invincible?

The vast inanimate,
And the fine brilliance of your so tiny eye,
Challenger.

Nay, tiny shell-bird,
What a huge vast inanimate it is, that you must row against,
What an incalculable inertia.

Challenger,
Little Ulysses, fore-runner,
No bigger than my thumb-nail,
Buon viaggio.

All animate creation on your shoulder,
Set forth, little Titan, under your battle-shield.

The ponderous, preponderate,
Inanimate universe;
And you are slowly moving, pioneer, you alone.

How vivid your travelling seems now, in the troubled sunshine,
Stoic, Ulyssean atom;
Suddenly hasty, reckless, on high toes.

Voiceless little bird,
Resting your head half out of your wimple
In the slow dignity of your eternal pause.
Alone, with no sense of being alone,
And hence six times more solitary;
Fulfilled of the slow passion of pitching through immemorial ages
Your little round house in the midst of chaos.

Over the garden earth,
Small bird,
Over the edge of all things.

Traveller,
With your tail tucked a little on one side
Like a gentleman in a long-skirted coat.

All life carried on your shoulder,
Invincible fore-runner.

Editor 1 Interpretation

"Baby Tortoise" by D.H. Lawrence: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Introduction

D.H. Lawrence's "Baby Tortoise" is a mesmerizing poem that captures the beauty and innocence of a tiny creature. The poem is only six lines long but it manages to evoke powerful emotions in the reader. The poem portrays the journey of a baby tortoise as it slowly makes its way towards the sea. The poem is full of imagery and metaphorical language that adds depth to the poem. In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, literary devices, and meanings present in Lawrence's "Baby Tortoise."

Themes

One of the main themes of "Baby Tortoise" is the idea of resilience. The baby tortoise is a symbol of strength, determination, and perseverance. Despite its small size and vulnerability, it manages to overcome obstacles and reach its destination. The poem suggests that even the smallest and weakest creatures can achieve greatness if they possess the willpower to do so.

Another theme of the poem is the beauty of nature. Lawrence uses vivid descriptions of the sea, the sky, and the sand to create a picture of the natural world. The poem highlights the beauty and wonder of nature, and how it can inspire awe and admiration in us.

Literary Devices

Lawrence uses several literary devices to add depth and complexity to the poem. One of the most prominent devices is metaphor. The baby tortoise is compared to a "black helmet" which emphasizes its small size and vulnerability. The image of the helmet also suggests that the tortoise is on a mission or quest, much like a knight on a mission to save a damsel in distress.

Another literary device that Lawrence uses is imagery. The poem is full of vivid descriptions of the natural world. The "deep sea" and "wide sands" suggest the vastness and infinitude of the natural world. The "azure sky" creates a sense of calm and serenity. The imagery in the poem helps to create a mood and atmosphere that is both peaceful and awe-inspiring.

The use of personification is also present in the poem. The baby tortoise is described as having "flashing feet." This description gives the tortoise a sense of agency and makes it seem more active and alive. The personification of the tortoise helps to create a sense of empathy and connection between the reader and the creature.

Meaning

The meaning of "Baby Tortoise" is open to interpretation. At its core, the poem is a celebration of the beauty and resilience of the natural world. The poem encourages us to appreciate the natural world and to find inspiration in the determination and willpower of even the smallest and weakest creatures.

The poem can also be interpreted as a metaphor for human life. The baby tortoise's journey towards the sea can be seen as a metaphor for the journey of life. The obstacles that the tortoise encounters on its journey can be seen as the obstacles that we encounter in our own lives. The poem suggests that we can overcome these obstacles and achieve greatness if we possess the willpower to do so.

Conclusion

In conclusion, "Baby Tortoise" is a beautiful and inspiring poem that captures the wonder and beauty of the natural world. The poem uses literary devices such as metaphor, imagery, and personification to create a sense of awe and admiration in the reader. The poem's themes of resilience and the beauty of nature make it a timeless classic that will continue to inspire readers for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Baby Tortoise: A Poem of Life and Growth

D.H. Lawrence’s poem, Baby Tortoise, is a beautiful and poignant piece that captures the essence of life and growth. The poem is a celebration of the journey of a baby tortoise as it embarks on its life’s journey. The poem is a metaphor for the journey of life, and the struggles and challenges that we all face as we grow and mature.

The poem begins with the image of the baby tortoise, “with a shell as smooth as silk,” as it sets out on its journey. The image of the smooth shell is significant, as it represents the innocence and purity of the baby tortoise. The baby tortoise is unblemished by the world, and is full of potential and promise.

As the baby tortoise sets out on its journey, it encounters various obstacles and challenges. The poem describes how the baby tortoise “struggled to the top of the bank” and “fell in a yellow flower-pot.” These obstacles represent the challenges that we all face in life. We must struggle and overcome obstacles in order to grow and mature.

Despite these challenges, the baby tortoise perseveres. The poem describes how the baby tortoise “climbed slowly” and “never gave up.” This perseverance is a key theme of the poem. It is a reminder that we must never give up, no matter how difficult the journey may be.

As the baby tortoise continues on its journey, it grows and matures. The poem describes how the baby tortoise’s “shell grew thicker” and how it “learned to hide in his house.” These images represent the growth and maturity that we all experience as we journey through life. We become stronger and more resilient, and we learn to protect ourselves from the world.

The poem ends with the image of the baby tortoise “sailing slowly away” into the distance. This image represents the completion of the journey of life. The baby tortoise has grown and matured, and is now ready to embark on its own journey. It is a reminder that we must all eventually sail away into the distance, and that our journey is never truly over.

In conclusion, Baby Tortoise is a beautiful and poignant poem that captures the essence of life and growth. It is a celebration of the journey of life, and the struggles and challenges that we all face as we grow and mature. The poem is a reminder that we must never give up, and that we must always persevere, no matter how difficult the journey may be. It is a reminder that we must all eventually sail away into the distance, and that our journey is never truly over.

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