1. “Atavism” John Myers O'Hara
Know the vocabulary, understand the poem, understand why Jack London includes it as an epigraph in The Call of the Wild.

2. Vocabulary for “Atavism”
Helots:
Serfs or servants

3. Vocabulary for “Atavism”
Morbid:
Psychologically unhealthy or unwholesome

4. Vocabulary for “Atavism”
Primal:
Being first in time; original; primeval

5. The lush greenness of flourishing vegetation
Verdure:
The lush greenness of flourishing vegetation

6. To make amends, as for a sin or a fault; conciliate or appease
Atone:
To make amends, as for a sin or a fault; conciliate or appease

7. Nomadic:
Referring to a group of people who have no fixed home and move according to the seasons from place to place in search of goods, water, and grazing land

8. Callous:
Having calluses; toughened/
emotionally hardened; unfeeling

9. Torpor:
A state of mental or physical inactivity or insensibility/ Lethargy or apathy/ the dormant state of hibernating animal

10. Sedge:
Any number of grass-like plants of the family cyperaceae, having solid stems and leaves in three vertical rows

11. Referring to wintertime
Brumal:
Referring to wintertime

12. Vocabulary for “Atavism”
Terrene:
Of or relating to the earth; earthly

13. Vocabulary for “Atavism”
The reappearance of a characteristic after several generations of absence, usually caused by the chance recombination of genes

14. Vocabulary for “Atavism”
Feral:
Referring to wild animals

15. “Atavism” by: John Myers O'Hara
1 Old longings nomadic leap,
Chafing at custom’s chain;
Again from is brumal sleep
4 Wakens the ferine strain.

16. After the torpor of will, Morbid with inner strife,
5 Helots of houses no more,
Let us be out, be free;
Fragrance through window and door
8 Wafts from the woods, the sea.
After the torpor of will,
Morbid with inner strife,
Welcome the animal thrill,
12 Lending a zest to life.

17. Banish the volumes revered, Ceilings the lamp flicker cheered
14 Sever from centuries dead;
Ceilings the lamp flicker cheered
Barter for stars instead.

18. Temple thy dreams with the trees, Worship the sun and the breeze,
18 Nature thy god alone;
Worship the sun and the breeze,
Altars where none atone.
Voices of solitude call,
22 Whisper of sedge and stream;
Loosen the fetters that gall,
Back to the primal scheme.

19. Feel the great throbbing terrene Conscious again of the green
26 Pulse in thy body beat,
Conscious again of the green
Verdure beneath the feet.
Callous to pain as the rose,
30 Breathe with instinct’s delight;
Live the existence that goes
Soulless into the night.