Review of Hedgie Choi’s poem ‘In my natural habitat’

 

Review of Hedgie Choi’s poem ‘In my natural habitat’

I request readers to read the poem from the link above and then only my review. Thanks.

The poem swaps between two habitats and ventures into the question what adulthood is all about.

There are rare creations that quote a contemporary work or visual which demands readers’ knowledge of the reference. In the following stanza the poet refers to the disciplined way in which crabs take over the shells left by the older crabs who have outgrown a shell.

Did you know those little guys get in a line according to size so they can move into a shell that fits in quick succession and minimize the time they are exposed and homeless? I watched a video of this narrated by David Attenborough—they form an orderly queue for the exchange.

Remarkable.

 

But in this video

one latecomer

muscles his way in

and steals the last crab’s shell.

 

I share the link for the video-à https://kottke.org/18/12/watch-how-hermit-crabs-all-line-up-to-exchange-their-shells

The poet finds the deviation and desperation in one of the younger crabs to push his counterpart and grab a shell, comparable with the struggles for survival by the adults in the human habitat.

 

The eternal loneliness of a creator or socially conscious person of human values is that due to his values; he is ‘far from the maddening crowd,’ concerned and empathetic to them nonetheless.

 

Most of the contemporary writers and poets are very much involved with the environment initiatives and activists. The poets love for the nature and endangered species is felt. A powerful poem.