Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Jane Hirshfield's poem "Dead Do Not Want Us Dead" is a contemplative piece that explores the relationship between the living and the deceased, reframing our perceptions of mortality and life's purpose. At its core, the poem disrupts conventional wisdom about death and mourning, suggesting that the dead do not benefit from our sorrow or anger but rather from our continued celebration of life.

The poem opens with a striking assertion: "The dead do not want us dead." This line immediately challenges the often pessimistic, grief-stricken attitudes we have toward death, implying that the deceased would not want their passing to drain the vitality of the living. The idea that "such petty errors are left for the living" elevates the dead to a higher, perhaps more enlightened, state of being, free from the trivial mistakes and emotional turmoils that often plague human life.

The dead "do not want our mourning," the poem insists. Instead of focusing on loss, it beckons us to understand that no emotional offerings-"not rage, not weeping"-serve as gifts to them. This line invites us to reconsider the conventional rituals of mourning, which often center on sadness and despair, instead hinting at an alternative form of tribute: living fully, passionately, and with great zeal.

"Return one of them, any one of them, to the earth, / and look: such foolish skipping, / such telling of bad jokes, such feasting!" Here, the poem suggests that the essence of a life is not captured in solemnity but in laughter, bad jokes, and the pleasures of feasting. It emphasizes that the dead would rather we embrace the present, where "even a cucumber, even a single anise seed" becomes an occasion for joy. In this way, the poem does not belittle the enormity of death but shifts the focus from mourning to living, from sadness to the celebration of every moment.

The poem's brevity and straightforward language amplify its emotional depth and philosophical richness. There's a sense of urgency to the message, as if the poem is nudging us to immediately reconsider how we view death and life. It prompts us to think about the quality of our emotional lives, our attitudes towards mortality, and our methods of honoring those who have passed on. Instead of laying flowers on a tombstone, Hirshfield seems to suggest, why not embrace life with all its imperfections, its "foolish skipping" and "bad jokes"?

In conclusion, "Dead Do Not Want Us Dead" serves as a profound reminder that the best way to honor the dead is by living vibrantly, relishing both the mundane and the extraordinary. The poem urges us to shed our conventional attitudes towards death and grief, advocating instead for a life full of "feasting," in both literal and metaphorical senses. By doing so, we not only honor the departed but also enrich our own existence.

Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!

Other Poems of Interest...