On the Move by Thom Gunn

 On the Move

By Thom Gunn

The blue jay scuffling in the bushes follows

Some hidden purpose, and the gust of birds

That spurts across the field, the wheeling swallows,

Has nested in the trees and undergrowth.

Seeking their instinct, or their poise, or both,

One moves with an uncertain violence

Under the dust thrown by a baffled sense

Or the dull thunder of approximate words.

On motorcycles, up the road, they come:

Small, black, as flies hanging in heat, the Boys,

Until the distance throws them forth, their hum

Bulges to thunder held by calf and thigh.

In goggles, donned impersonality,

In gleaming jackets trophied with the dust,

They strap in doubt – by hiding it, robust –

And almost hear a meaning in their noise.

Exact conclusion of their hardiness

Has no shape yet, but from known whereabouts

They ride, direction where the tyres press.

They scare a flight of birds across the field:

Much that is natural, to the will must yield.

Men manufacture both machine and soul,

And use what they imperfectly control

To dare a future from the taken routes.

It is a part solution, after all.

One is not necessarily discord

On earth; or damned because, half animal,

One lacks direct instinct, because one wakes

Afloat on movement that divides and breaks.

One joins the movement in a valueless world,

Choosing it, till, both hurler and the hurled,

One moves as well, always toward, toward.

A minute holds them, who have come to go:

The self-defined, astride the created will

They burst away; the towns they travel through

Are home for neither bird nor holiness,

For birds and saints complete their purposes.

At worst, one is in motion; and at best,

Reaching no absolute, in which to rest,

One is always nearer by not keeping still.

Glossary

Blue jay
A brightly colored bird known for its intelligence and loud calls

Scuffling
Moving with quick, confused, or noisy motions—suggests the bird is searching or struggling in the bushes.

Hidden purpose
An unseen or mysterious motive; implies that even nature’s actions may have meaning beyond human understanding.

Gust of birds
A sudden, forceful movement of a group of birds; likened to a gust of wind—emphasizing energy and unpredictability.

Spurts
Bursts or sudden rushes; refers to the way the birds fly across the field.

Wheeling swallows
Swallows flying in circular or graceful patterns—symbolizing freedom, grace, or instinctive motion.

Nestled in the trees and undergrowth
Birds settling or living in trees and low vegetation—implying home, instinct, or shelter in nature.

Poise
Balance or composure; the birds (or metaphorically people) may be seeking harmony or steadiness.

Dust thrown by a baffled sense
Confusion clouding perception; the metaphor suggests that the senses are overwhelmed or misdirected.

Dull thunder of approximate words
Refers to the inability of language to fully express meaning—words are imprecise, and communication becomes heavy and unclear.

 Up the road

Suggests the approach of the riders from a distance, emphasizing anticipation and movement.

Small, black, as flies hanging in heat
A simile comparing the approaching boys on motorcycles to black flies in hot weather—conveys a sense of menace, insignificance, or irritation.

Distance throws them forth
As the boys get closer, they emerge from the blur of distance into sharp focus—implies sudden presence or impact.

Their hum bulges to thunder
The soft sound of approaching engines grows louder and more intense, turning into a thunderous roar—evoking power and tension.

Held by calf and thigh
Describes how the riders grip the motorcycles with their legs—emphasizes control, masculinity, and physicality.

Donned impersonality

Wearing a look of emotional detachment—suggests a mask-like appearance, suppressing individual personality.

Gleaming jackets trophied with the dust
Shiny jackets covered in dust from the road—dust acts like a badge of pride or experience.

Strap in doubt – by hiding it, robust
Though they may feel uncertain or insecure, they hide it behind a display of strength and confidence.

Almost hear a meaning in their noise
Suggests a yearning for purpose or identity—trying to find meaning in the loudness or chaos they create.

 Exact conclusion of their hardiness

The final outcome or purpose of their toughness or daring behavior is not yet clear—suggests uncertainty about their future or identity.

Has no shape yet
There is no defined form or destiny—their journey or end remains unknown or unformed.

Hurler and the hurled: the dual role of controlling and being controlled by life’s momentum.

Toward, toward: Relentless forward motion. The destination is unspecified, implying that purpose lies in the act of moving itself, not necessarily in the goal.

A minute holds them, who have come to go
A brief pause before departure—those who are constantly moving or seeking don’t linger long.

Astride 
Riding or being in control of a will or drive that they themselves have formed—symbolizes conscious, self-chosen movement or motivation.

Critical Appreciation of "On the Move" by Thom Gunn

Thom Gunn’s “On the Move” is a reflective and philosophical poem that explores the tension between motion and stillness, purpose and purposelessness, freedom and constraint, especially within the context of post-war masculinity and existential uncertainty. The poem uses the image of leather-clad bikers speeding down roads to symbolically examine the human condition in a modern, dislocated world.

Themes

1.      Restlessness and Search for Purpose:                                                                                
The poem deals with existential restlessness. The bikers are constantly on the move, searching for meaning in a world where traditional values have faded. Movement itself becomes a metaphor for the search for identity and direction.

2.      Masculine Identity and Performance:                                                                                           
Gunn presents the bikers as “the Boys,” whose tough appearance hides inner doubt. Their leather jackets, goggles, and powerful machines become symbols of constructed masculinity and emotional suppression.

3.      Freedom vs. Control:                                                                                                                       
There’s a tension between the freedom of riding and the limits of human control. Though the bikers seem autonomous, they ride paths already laid down. Gunn subtly critiques the illusion of total freedom.

4.      Existentialism and Modern Dislocation:                                                                            
The poem engages with existential ideas—there is no fixed “absolute” or resting point. Humans are both “hurler and hurled,” acting and being acted upon in a world without inherent value.

5.      Nature vs. Mechanism:                                                                                                        
Birds, trees, and instinct represent the organic world, while motorcycles and dust symbolize human artifice. The poem questions whether humans can find the same unity with purpose that nature seems to possess.

Style and Form

The poem is written in regular iambic pentameter with a loose but consistent rhyme scheme, giving it a steady, deliberate rhythm that mirrors the motion of the motorcycles. Gunn uses formal structure to bring control and clarity to his philosophical reflections, a typical feature of his early poetry.

Despite the structured form, the diction is modern and accessible, blending formal poetic elements with contemporary imagery. This juxtaposition enhances the poem’s exploration of modernity’s challenges.

Tone

The tone is contemplative, philosophical, and at times melancholic. While Gunn admires the energy and defiance of the bikers, he also recognizes the futility in their ceaseless movement. There is a detached sympathy in the tone—a recognition of shared human striving without romanticizing it.

Structure

The poem is structured in five stanzas, each developing a different facet of the central theme. The first stanzas set the scene with vivid imagery of birds and bikers, contrasting natural instinct with human doubt. Midway, Gunn delves into philosophical inquiry, reflecting on human will, artifice, and the search for meaning. The final stanzas offer a resolution—not a conclusion, but an acceptance: the act of moving forward is, in itself, a form of purpose.

Mood

The mood fluctuates between restless energy and reflective resignation. The initial imagery is dynamic and full of movement, but as the poem progresses, a sense of philosophical weight and emotional weariness settles in. The closing lines offer a kind of stoic hope—“one is always nearer by not keeping still”—suggesting movement as the only way to approach understanding, even if the destination is unclear.

Literary Devices

1.      Simile and Metaphor:

o    "Small, black, as flies" evokes insignificance and menace.

o    “Hurler and the hurled” captures the duality of agency and passivity.

2.      Enjambment:

o    Lines often run into one another, reflecting the unbroken, continuous motion of the riders and the stream of thought.

3.      Symbolism:

o    Motorcycles symbolize modern freedom and alienation.

o    Birds represent instinct, natural purpose, and grace.

4.      Irony:

o    The bikers seem powerful and free, but their journey is shaped by routes already “taken,” and their confidence hides doubt.

Conclusion

“On the Move” is a richly layered poem that explores the existential dilemma of modern man through powerful imagery, disciplined form, and philosophical insight. Gunn’s use of the biker as a symbol of 20th-century dislocation allows him to interrogate the human need for direction in a world devoid of fixed values. Through its balanced tone, carefully structured form, and thoughtful engagement with modern identity, the poem remains a compelling meditation on motion as both metaphor and condition of life. 

 

Detailed Explanation

Stanza 1: 

    The blue jay scuffling in the bushes follows

Some hidden purpose, and the gust of birds

That spurts across the field, the wheeling swallows,

Has nested in the trees and undergrowth.

Seeking their instinct, or their poise, or both,

One moves with an uncertain violence

Under the dust thrown by a baffled sense

Or the dull thunder of approximate words.

    This stanza explores the contrast between the natural world’s instinctive motion and the human struggle for meaning and clarity. The blue jay scuffling in the bushes and the swallows wheeling through the air seem to follow some hidden yet purposeful instinct. Their movements, though rapid and unpredictable, are guided by a natural order—they nest in trees and undergrowth, grounded in their environment. This represents a kind of harmony and balance inherent in the animal world. In contrast, the human figure in the stanza moves with “an uncertain violence,” suggesting emotional turmoil and a lack of direction. Unlike the birds, people often lack clear instinct or poise, and instead, they struggle to navigate a world filled with confusion. This confusion is symbolized by the “dust thrown by a baffled sense,” indicating clouded perception, and by the “dull thunder of approximate words,” which reveals the inadequacy of language to fully express complex inner experiences. The stanza highlights themes such as the divide between instinct and reason, the insufficiency of language, and human alienation from the natural flow of life. Ultimately, it portrays the human condition as one of restless searching, in contrast to the seamless, instinctive existence of animals.

Stanza 2: 

    On motorcycles, up the road, they come:

Small, black, as flies hanging in heat, the Boys,

Until the distance throws them forth, their hum

Bulges to thunder held by calf and thigh.

In goggles, donned impersonality,

In gleaming jackets trophied with the dust,

They strap in doubt – by hiding it, robust –

And almost hear a meaning in their noise. 

    This stanza vividly captures the arrival of a group of young men on motorcycles, symbolizing a restless, rebellious spirit. They are first seen from a distance, appearing small and black “as flies hanging in heat”—a simile that suggests their insignificance, anonymity, and perhaps a slight menace. As they come closer, the soft hum of their engines swells into a thunderous roar, emphasizing their powerful presence and the physical control they assert, “held by calf and thigh.” Their goggles and dust-covered jackets create a uniform appearance, projecting a hardened, impersonal identity. The phrase “donned impersonality” suggests that they have adopted a deliberate detachment, a way to mask vulnerability. Their dust-covered jackets become trophies of experience, signs of their journey and struggle. The line “they strap in doubt – by hiding it, robust –” reveals that beneath their tough exterior lies uncertainty or insecurity, which they conceal through their aggressive posturing. Finally, the stanza ends on a poignant note: “they almost hear a meaning in their noise,” implying a desperate search for purpose or identity through the very chaos and sound they create. The stanza explores themes of youth, masculinity, performance, and the search for meaning in a seemingly indifferent world.

Stanza 3: 

Exact conclusion of their hardiness

Has no shape yet, but from known whereabouts

They ride, direction where the tyres press.

They scare a flight of birds across the field:

Much that is natural, to the will must yield.

Men manufacture both machine and soul,

And use what they imperfectly control

To dare a future from the taken routes.

    This stanza reflects on the uncertain yet determined journey of individuals who move forward despite not knowing exactly where they are headed. Their "hardiness", or resilience, lacks a clear "conclusion"—there is no fixed outcome or final destination in sight. Yet, from "known whereabouts", they continue riding, guided only by the direction their "tyres press", suggesting instinctive or habitual movement rather than deliberate planning. Their passage startles a flight of birds, symbolizing the disruption of natural peace by human activity. The line "Much that is natural, to the will must yield" points to the dominance of human will over nature, highlighting how human ambition often overrides organic, instinctive patterns. The stanza deepens this idea by stating that "Men manufacture both machine and soul", suggesting that not only technology but even human identity is constructed. Yet, both are imperfectly controlled, indicating the limits of human mastery. In spite of this, people still "dare a future", courageously attempting to shape what lies ahead by following paths already begun—"taken routes". The stanza underscores themes of uncertainty, human agency, and the complex relationship between progress, control, and the natural world.

• Stanza 4: 

  It is a part solution, after all.
  

  One is not necessarily discord
  

  On earth; or damned because, half animal,
  

  One lacks direct instinct, because one wakes
  

  Afloat on movement that divides and breaks.
  

  One joins the movement in a valueless world,
  

  Choosing it, till, both hurler and the hurled,
  

  One moves as well, always toward, toward.

    The stanza acknowledges the existential uncertainty and fragmented experience of being human but offers a kind of resolution or coping strategy. It suggests that accepting life’s “movement that divides and breaks” is itself “a part solution.” Despite lacking the clarity of pure instinct—being “half animal”—humans are not necessarily doomed or in conflict (“discord”) with the world. Instead, one can find peace in embracing this complexity. Rather than resisting the chaos of existence or the lack of inherent meaning (“a valueless world”), one can choose to join the flow of life. In doing so, even as one is both the “hurler and the hurled”—both the one acting and being acted upon—there is movement forward. The solution lies in acceptance and engagement: to live is to move, to participate actively in the journey without expecting final answers. The repetition of “toward, toward” emphasizes that progress or meaning may not lie in a destination, but in the act of ongoing movement itself. Thus, the poem offers a way of living authentically in a fragmented world—by choosing motion, embracing ambiguity, and finding meaning in the striving.

Stanza 5: 

A minute holds them, who have come to go:

The self-defined, astride the created will

They burst away; the towns they travel through

Are home for neither bird nor holiness,

For birds and saints complete their purposes.

At worst, one is in motion; and at best,

Reaching no absolute, in which to rest,

One is always nearer by not keeping still.    

    This stanza reflects on the transient nature of those who are perpetually on the move, defining themselves through their own choices rather than fixed circumstances. "A minute holds them, who have come to go" implies that their presence is brief—a fleeting moment before they move on. These individuals, described as “the self-defined,” consciously harness a force—a created will—that propels them forward. They burst away into the world, leaving behind towns that offer no lasting refuge or identity, being unsuitable even for birds or saints who fulfill their complete, specific purposes. In contrast, the wanderers remain in a constant state of motion; even if their journey seems aimless at times (“at worst, one is in motion”), this very movement enables them to edge closer to a potential, elusive destination. Although they never reach an absolute state of rest or finality, their persistent pursuit ensures that they are always nearer to some form of fulfillment simply by refusing to stagnate.