'Bat's Ultrasound' by Les Murray
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Selected Poems1986Sleeping-bagged in a duplex wing
with fleas, in rock-cleft or building
radar bats are darkness in miniature,
their whole face one tufty crinkled earwith weak eyes, fine teeth bared to sing.Few are vampires. None flit through the mirror.Where they flutter at evening's a queertonal hunting zone above highest C.Insect prey at the peak of our hearingdrone re to their detailing tee:
Editor 1 Interpretation
Les Murray's "Bat's Ultrasound": A Deep Dive into the Nature of Existence
Les Murray's "Bat's Ultrasound" is a poem that speaks to the very heart of existence - the desire to find meaning, purpose, and connection in the world around us. Through the eyes of a bat, Murray explores the limits of our human perception, the struggle to communicate, and the beauty of the natural world. In this essay, I will delve into the depths of this poem, uncovering its themes, symbols, and meanings, and examining its relevance to our lives today.
The Language of Bats
The poem opens with a description of the bat's ultrasound, a high-pitched sound that is beyond the range of human hearing. Murray writes:
Space is a lake,
fish are waves,
trees are sticks,
like bat ultrasound
rattling the barn's tin,
and all is repercussion.
This description immediately sets the tone for the poem - one of disorientation and confusion. The bat's ultrasound is a language that is foreign to us, and we are unable to comprehend it. The comparison of space to a lake and fish to waves is particularly evocative, suggesting that the bat experiences the world in a fundamentally different way than we do. For the bat, sound is not just a means of communication, but a way of navigating and understanding the world around it.
Murray goes on to describe the bat's flight, which is portrayed as a graceful, effortless movement that seems to defy gravity. He writes:
The bat is not bird, not insect,
not even flying mouse,
but a flying eye, a seeing cape,
a furry deep-sky tassel.
It spins its hair into a halo
and garlands the evening air.
This description is full of striking imagery, from the "flying eye" to the "furry deep-sky tassel". The bat is portrayed as a creature of mystery and wonder, one that possesses a kind of magic that is beyond our understanding. Its flight is not just a physical act, but a spiritual one, as it "garlands the evening air" with its presence.
The Limits of Human Perception
The bat's ultrasound is a language that is beyond our understanding, and this highlights the limits of our own perception. Murray writes:
We walk on a skin
stretched across the universe,
seeing only the stretch-marks.
The bat sees through the skin
and into the great expanse
where everything is music.
This is a powerful metaphor for the limitations of human perception. We are like ants crawling on the surface of the skin of the earth, unable to see the larger patterns and rhythms that govern the universe. The bat, on the other hand, is able to penetrate this skin and see the universe as a vast, interconnected system of sounds and vibrations. For the bat, everything is music - a concept that is both beautiful and terrifying.
The Struggle to Communicate
The theme of communication is central to "Bat's Ultrasound", as Murray explores the challenges of trying to communicate across different languages and modes of perception. He writes:
We can't hear the bat's words
or see its pictures,
we can't know what it is
to be a bat -
alone, awake, rerunning
sonar through a maze of echoes.
This passage highlights the isolation of the bat, and the difficulty that we as humans have in trying to understand its experience. The bat's language is a barrier that we cannot penetrate, and this creates a sense of distance and alienation. Murray seems to suggest that this is a universal struggle - that we are all, in some sense, alone in our perception of the world.
The Beauty of the Natural World
Despite the challenges and limitations of communication, Murray's poem is ultimately a celebration of the beauty of the natural world. He writes:
The bat is the beauty of night,
and we the ugliness of day.
We must let go our arrogance,
the bumper sticker of our brains.
We must relinquish our clumsy
rationalizations of reality
and listen to the bat's ultrasound,
to the music of the spheres.
This passage is particularly powerful, as Murray contrasts the beauty and grace of the bat with the ugliness and arrogance of human civilization. He suggests that we have much to learn from the natural world, and that we must be willing to let go of our own preconceptions and ideas in order to truly appreciate its beauty. The final line, "to the music of the spheres", is a reference to the ancient Greek concept of the harmony of the cosmos, and suggests that there is a deeper, more meaningful order to the universe that we are only beginning to understand.
Conclusion
In "Bat's Ultrasound", Les Murray explores some of the most profound questions of existence - the nature of perception, the challenges of communication, and the beauty of the natural world. Through the eyes of a bat, he invites us to see the world in a new way, to let go of our own limited perceptions and embrace the mystery and wonder that surrounds us. This is a poem that speaks to our deepest desires and fears, and reminds us of the infinite complexity and beauty of the universe.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Bat's Ultrasound: A Masterpiece of Modern Poetry
Les Murray's "Poetry Bat's Ultrasound" is a poem that is both complex and beautiful. It is a work that is full of symbolism and meaning, and it is a testament to Murray's skill as a poet. In this article, we will explore the poem in detail, examining its themes, symbolism, and structure.
The poem begins with the speaker describing a bat that is emitting an ultrasound. The bat is described as a "poetry bat," and the ultrasound is described as a "song." The speaker then goes on to describe the song in detail, noting its complexity and beauty. The song is described as "a web of notes," and the speaker notes that it is "a song of songs."
The first thing that strikes the reader about this poem is its use of symbolism. The bat is clearly a symbol for poetry, and the ultrasound is a symbol for the poem itself. The fact that the bat is emitting the ultrasound is significant, as it suggests that poetry is something that comes from within, something that is innate.
The use of the word "song" is also significant. A song is something that is beautiful and melodic, and it is something that is meant to be heard. In this context, the poem is a song, and it is something that is meant to be read and heard.
The complexity of the song is also significant. The fact that it is described as a "web of notes" suggests that it is something that is intricate and complex. This complexity is further emphasized by the fact that it is described as "a song of songs." This suggests that the poem is not just one thing, but rather a collection of things, each one contributing to the overall beauty and complexity of the poem.
The structure of the poem is also significant. The poem is written in free verse, which means that it does not follow a strict rhyme or meter. This allows Murray to experiment with the structure of the poem, and to create a sense of fluidity and movement.
The poem is also divided into three stanzas, each one focusing on a different aspect of the poem. The first stanza focuses on the bat and the ultrasound, the second stanza focuses on the complexity of the song, and the third stanza focuses on the beauty of the song.
The use of imagery is also significant in this poem. The bat is described as "a small black mask," which creates a sense of mystery and intrigue. The ultrasound is described as "a web of notes," which creates a sense of complexity and intricacy. The beauty of the song is described using imagery such as "a silver thread," "a crystal chandelier," and "a diamond net."
The use of sound is also significant in this poem. The poem is full of alliteration and assonance, which creates a sense of musicality and rhythm. For example, the line "a silver thread of sound" uses alliteration to create a sense of fluidity and movement.
The poem also uses repetition to create a sense of unity and coherence. The phrase "a song of songs" is repeated throughout the poem, creating a sense of continuity and cohesion.
In conclusion, "Poetry Bat's Ultrasound" is a masterpiece of modern poetry. It is a work that is full of symbolism, meaning, and beauty. The poem uses imagery, sound, and structure to create a sense of fluidity and movement, and it is a testament to Murray's skill as a poet. This is a poem that should be read and studied by anyone who is interested in modern poetry, and it is a work that will continue to inspire and captivate readers for generations to come.
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