Loss of Innocence

“Death of a Naturalist” proposes, in its title, to be a story of death. However, this isn’t a literal physical death but rather an internal death, a transition from one state of being to another. The speaker is implied to be very young when the poem begins, still in primary school and learning basic biology through personified metaphors of “mammy” and “daddy” frogs (Lines 16-17). Moreover, the speaker views nature through the filter of childhood wonder, as a world to be explored. When the right time of year arrives, they embark on an adventure collecting frog’s eggs and watching them ripen into living creatures. At this point, the speaker has a vague understanding of the nature of transformation, but not the sexuality or mechanics behind it. They simply appreciate the world for what it is and the magic it has to offer...