Poem Analysis: Two Headed Calf

Laura Gilpin’s poem “Two-Headed Calf” is a short, poignant piece that has gained attention for its surreal and thought-provoking imagery. Through the lens of a two-headed calf, the poem explores themes of innocence, mortality, and the beauty of fleeting moments. Despite its brevity, the poem leaves a lasting emotional impact and offers a unique perspective on life and death.

In this article, we will delve into the themes, symbolism, and emotional depth of Two-Headed Calf. We will also explore why this poem resonates with readers, offering insights into its broader meaning.

Table of Contents

The Poem: Two-Headed Calf by Laura Gilpin

Here is the full text of Two-Headed Calf:

Two-Headed Calf
Tomorrow when the farm boys find this freak of nature,
they will wrap his body in newspaper and carry him to the museum.

But tonight he is alive and in the north field
with his mother.

It is a perfect summer evening: the moon rising over the orchard,
the wind in the grass.

And as he stares into the sky,
there are twice as many stars as usual.

1. Theme of the Poem

At its core, Two-Headed Calf is about life’s fleeting beauty and the inevitability of death. The poem presents a moment of innocence and wonder before the calf’s tragic fate becomes inevitable. The two-headed calf, though abnormal in the eyes of humans, experiences an extraordinary moment of beauty as it gazes at the stars, unaware of its own fate.

Key Themes:

Innocence and Beauty: The calf is presented as a “freak of nature,” but the poem focuses on the beauty of the moment it is alive, particularly the calf’s experience of the natural world. This theme celebrates the idea that even in the face of impermanence, beauty and wonder can be found.
Mortality: The poem subtly reminds readers of mortality. The calf’s fate is foreshadowed in the first line when it is mentioned that it will be found and brought to the museum the next day. This acknowledgment of the calf’s impending death casts a bittersweet tone over the beautiful, peaceful moment it enjoys in the present.

Perspective: The calf, with its two heads, sees “twice as many stars as usual.” This line suggests that the calf’s unique condition allows it to experience the world in a way that others cannot. The theme of perspective emphasizes that beauty and wonder are subjective and can be found even in the most unusual circumstances.

2. Tone and Mood

The tone of the poem is bittersweet—a blend of serene acceptance and quiet melancholy. While the poem acknowledges the calf’s eventual tragic fate, it also emphasizes the beauty of the present moment, especially the calf’s innocence and the peaceful surroundings.

The mood created by the poem is one of tranquility mixed with a sense of impending loss. The natural imagery of the moon rising over the orchard and the wind in the grass evokes a calm and serene atmosphere, but the knowledge of the calf’s inevitable death casts a shadow over the scene, creating a mood of bittersweet reflection.

3. Structure and Language

The poem is written in free verse, with no strict rhyme scheme or meter. This lack of formal structure mirrors the natural, unstructured beauty of the moment being described. The poem’s simplicity allows the reader to focus on the emotional depth of the scene.

Language and Imagery:

Gilpin uses simple, direct language to convey profound emotions. The imagery in the poem is vivid but understated, capturing the beauty of a summer evening with just a few well-chosen details:

“The moon rising over the orchard” and “the wind in the grass” create a peaceful, pastoral scene that contrasts with the calf’s unusual condition.

“Twice as many stars as usual” is a striking image that emphasizes the calf’s unique experience of the world. The stars symbolize beauty, wonder, and the vastness of the universe, and the calf’s ability to see double suggests that its perspective, though different from others, is just as valid and perhaps even more magical.

Key Lines:

“Tomorrow when the farm boys find this freak of nature…”
This opening line immediately sets up the contrast between the calf’s fate and the beauty of the present moment. The use of the term “freak of nature” highlights how the calf is viewed by others, but the poem quickly moves away from this label to focus on the calf’s experience of the world.
“But tonight he is alive and in the north field with his mother.”
This line shifts the focus from the future (the calf’s death) to the present moment, emphasizing the importance of the here and now. The calf’s connection to its mother and the peaceful setting suggest that, despite its condition, the calf is living a life full of quiet beauty.

“There are twice as many stars as usual.”
This is perhaps the most powerful line in the poem. It suggests that the calf’s unique condition allows it to see the world differently, experiencing twice the beauty that others might. The line also carries a deeper meaning—that even a life considered abnormal or tragic can be filled with wonder.

4. Symbolism in the Poem

The poem uses several symbols to convey its deeper themes:

The Two-Headed Calf: The calf symbolizes difference and innocence. Its two heads make it a “freak of nature” in the eyes of humans, but to the calf, this difference allows it to experience the world in an extraordinary way. The calf represents the idea that beauty and wonder can be found in the most unlikely places, even in lives that are destined to be short or seen as abnormal.

The Stars: The stars symbolize beauty, wonder, and the infinite. The calf’s ability to see “twice as many stars” suggests that it has access to a level of beauty and experience that others may not. The stars also contrast with the finite nature of the calf’s life, representing the vastness and mystery of the universe.
The Museum: The mention of the museum symbolizes mortality and preservation. Once the calf is dead, it will be preserved as a curiosity in a museum, but the poem suggests that the true beauty of the calf lies in its present, living moment, not in its future as a specimen.

5. Emotional Impact

The emotional impact of Two-Headed Calf comes from the contrast between the calf’s tragic fate and the beauty of the moment it is experiencing. The poem evokes a sense of sadness for the calf’s impending death, but it also inspires a feeling of wonder at the beauty the calf perceives in the world. The poem encourages readers to appreciate the fleeting moments of beauty in life, even in the face of mortality.

The image of the calf seeing “twice as many stars” is particularly moving. It suggests that even lives that are brief or seen as abnormal can be filled with extraordinary moments of beauty and wonder. The poem invites readers to reflect on their own lives and the moments of beauty they may overlook.

6. Why the Poem Resonates

The poem resonates with readers because it speaks to the fragility of life and the idea that beauty can be found even in the most unusual or tragic circumstances. The two-headed calf, while destined for death and preservation in a museum, experiences a moment of pure wonder as it gazes at the stars. This contrast between life’s fleeting moments of beauty and the inevitability of death makes the poem both heartbreaking and uplifting.

In a broader sense, the poem can be seen as a metaphor for human life. We are all, in some ways, like the two-headed calf—living in a world where our time is limited, but capable of experiencing extraordinary moments of beauty and wonder if we allow ourselves to see them.

Conclusion

Laura Gilpin’s Two-Headed Calf is a beautiful and moving poem that reminds us of the fleeting nature of life and the importance of appreciating its moments of beauty. Through the lens of a two-headed calf, Gilpin explores themes of innocence, mortality, and perspective, encouraging readers to reflect on the ways they perceive the world around them.

The poem’s simple language, vivid imagery, and emotional depth make it a powerful meditation on life and death. Two-Headed Calf invites us to find beauty in the present moment, even in the most unlikely or tragic circumstances, and to remember that every life, no matter how brief or different, is filled with its own unique wonders.