A Primordial Howl

In A Primordial Howl, Novel Allen offers more than just free verse — the poem reads like a myth, a prophecy, and a warning all wrapped into one. From the opening cry that echoes across the void to the final haunting image of humanity stranded between heaven and hell, the piece reminds us of poetry’s ancient function: to awaken, to warn, and to connect us with the elemental forces that shape existence.

The Mythic Opening

The poem begins with a startling line: “A primordial howl escaped my lips as it all began to form.” Immediately, the reader is pulled into a space beyond ordinary time. This is not the comfortable terrain of modern life; this is the cosmic edge, where creation itself is about to begin. By placing the speaker at “the precipice, the edge of Nothing,” the poem establishes a mythic voice — one that is both witness and participant in the unfolding of the world.

This opening works as a hook because it triggers curiosity and awe. We wonder: who is this speaker? Are they human, divine, or something in between? What does it mean to stand before life itself has begun? That open loop compels us to keep reading, not for answers in a conventional sense, but for images that will make the unknowable feel vivid.

From Creation to Corruption

As the poem progresses, it moves through cycles of creation: winter frost, summer rain, autumn leaves, spring flowers. Life is evoked in its simplest, most beautiful rhythms. But soon, a shift occurs. The speaker watches humanity emerge — head, torso, arms, lungs filling with breath — and feels hope at this birth. Yet that hope quickly curdles into despair.

The wolves, figures of natural wisdom and primal instinct, warn humanity to be careful. But the warnings are ignored. Instead of listening, humanity chases greed, silences nature, and loses its connection to what truly matters. Lines like “lakes gone… gold no longer glitters” are stark in their simplicity, offering a bleak vision of ecological and moral decline.

Here, Allen uses contrast as a key poetic device. The beauty of early creation collides with the corruption of later human choices. That tension gives the poem its emotional arc: awe, hope, disappointment, and urgent warning.

The Prophetic Voice

In the middle of the poem, the speaker takes on the role of prophet, almost preacher. Commands ring out: “Stop the fake smiles. Howl at the moon. Live beautifully.” The tone shifts from observation to exhortation. The voice no longer describes what is happening but demands what must be done.

This shift is crucial for the poem’s effectiveness. Without it, the work might remain only a lament. With it, the poem becomes a call to action. The howl is not just a symbol of primal energy; it is a reminder that authenticity, resistance, and attention to the natural world are essential for survival.

Myth, Burden, and the Final Warning

Allen deepens the prophetic tone by invoking myth. The image of Sisyphus — eternally straining under the rock — becomes a symbol of the “penitent few” who still carry the burden of trying to save the world. Myth here functions not as decoration but as reinforcement: the struggle to redeem humanity is eternal, exhausting, and heroic.

The climax of the poem is its stark warning: “This is the final warning. Repent or become lost forever, somewhere between Heaven and Hell, in Limbo!” The diction is unmistakably biblical, echoing sermons and apocalyptic scripture. By fusing mythic, natural, and spiritual registers, the poem elevates itself beyond personal reflection. It becomes a collective warning, directed at all of us.

Why the Poem Resonates

What makes A Primordial Howl powerful is not just its imagery but its structure. It begins in mystery, rises to awe, descends into despair, and ends in haunting uncertainty. Along the way, it uses open loops — questions left hanging — to keep the reader engaged. Who is the speaker? Will humanity listen? Will there be a second chance? The poem refuses to close these loops neatly, leaving us unsettled, which is precisely the point.

In terms of voice, the speaker is visionary and authoritative, yet vulnerable. They howl alone, yet also stand as witness for all of humanity. This mixture of loneliness and authority gives the poem its urgency. It is both deeply personal and universally prophetic.

Conclusion: Howling for Survival

Ultimately, A Primordial Howl is a meditation on beginnings and endings, on creation and destruction. It asks us to reconsider our place in the great cycles of life, to remember that ignoring the natural world carries a terrible cost. Its refrain — the howl — is at once grief, resistance, and prayer.

By the end, the reader is left with an image of humanity stranded, still howling, waiting for the world to tilt again and begin anew. It is not a comforting vision, but it is a necessary one. Poetry, at its best, does not soothe us into complacency; it unsettles us into action. And in that sense, Allen’s howl is not just primordial. It is timely, urgent, and enduring.