The two headed calf is a provocative metaphor that has found its way into various forms of literature, from folktales to modern poetry. Among the most notable uses of this metaphor is in the poem “The Heavenly Feast” by American poet, Laura Gilpin. The poem’s depth and symbolism offer a compelling exploration of life, duality, and the fleeting beauty of existence.
The Two Headed Calf Poem
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.
The opening lines of Gilpin’s poem instantly arrest the reader’s attention: “Tomorrow when the farm boys find this/freak of nature, they will wrap his body/in newspaper and carry him to the museum.” The two-headed calf symbol, right at the onset, intrigues readers with its novelty and strangeness. The calf’s life, brief and extraordinary, raises existential questions about our perception of normality and the spectacle of the unfamiliar.
The two-headed calf, a ‘freak of nature,’ also presents the theme of duality. This duality is interpreted in various ways: life and death, joy and suffering, the ordinary and the extraordinary, and perhaps, most importantly, the ephemeral and the eternal. The calf’s short life symbolizes the transitory nature of existence. It serves as a stark reminder that life is fleeting, a brief sojourn that should be cherished, much like the calf that revels in its “little, two-headed life” under the stars.
Gilpin further explores this theme in the lines, “He has also, they say, a genuine smile/And four eyes to look at the world/And though he may have lived for only a day/He knew a lifetime.” The calf’s brief existence does not preclude it from experiencing the full breadth of life.
Despite its short lifespan, it recognizes the world with twice the usual vision, symbolized by its four eyes. The additional pair of eyes can be seen as a metaphor for a deeper, more nuanced understanding of existence. The calf sees the world with an innocence and wonder that we often forget in the busyness of our longer lives. The genuine smile further accentuates the calf’s innocence and the joy it derives from its existence.
Continuing with this exploration, Gilpin weaves an intricate interplay between the mundane and the extraordinary. The calf, despite being a ‘freak of nature,’ experiences the same joys and apprehensions as any other creature. The narrator tells us, “The mother nuzzled him with her warm snout/But she had only one heart/Which could not pump enough blood/For this rare and wondrous miracle.” The mother’s inability to sustain the calf’s life underscores the delicate balance of nature, and the often tragic consequences of its disruption. Yet, it also speaks to the universality of maternal love, a poignant aspect of the calf’s existence.
One of the most significant aspects of the poem is the manner in which it engages the reader in a reflection on mortality. The two-headed calf’s brief existence serves as a stark reminder of the transience of life. However, Gilpin encourages the reader not to view this fleeting existence with dread or sorrow, but with a sense of wonder and acceptance.
The poem asserts, “It is my prayer that on the day I die,/Even if I have been dead a thousand years,/I will rush up the spiral staircase of my days,/Two steps at a time/Looking at the world with four eyes.” These lines speak to the importance of embracing life’s brevity, of living with the awareness that our existence, like the calf’s, is fleeting. This awareness should not lead to despair, but instead, to an intensified appreciation for the wonder of existence.
The “spiral staircase of days” metaphor suggests that life is a journey that ascends toward an ultimate understanding or revelation. Despite its brevity, each day contributes to the construction of this staircase, leading us towards a broader perspective of life. It emphasizes the importance of cherishing each day, of ‘rushing up’ the staircase, cognizant of the beauty and marvel of life.
Gilpin’s poem, through the image of the two-headed calf, brings into focus the concepts of life, death, duality, and the cyclical nature of existence. The poem’s powerful imagery and evocative metaphors draw us into a profound exploration of these themes, compelling us to reflect on our own perceptions of life and mortality.
The two-headed calf serves as a symbol of the extraordinary nestled within the mundane, challenging us to perceive the world with a fresh sense of wonder. It encourages us to cherish the beauty of existence, despite its fleeting nature, and to live with an awareness of life’s transience.
In the final analysis, “The Heavenly Feast” is more than a poem about a two-headed calf. It is a profound meditation on the nature of existence, a testament to the beauty of life in all its forms, however short or seemingly strange. By highlighting the calf’s brief but meaningful existence, Laura Gilpin urges us to live our lives fully, cherishing each day as a step on the spiral staircase of our existence. The poem reminds us that life, in its varied and strange forms, is a rare and wondrous miracle, deserving of our appreciation and awe.
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