Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Poem With Two Endings" by Jane Hirshfield masterfully confronts the reader with the omnipresence and transformative power of death-a topic often veiled in fear and ambiguity. The poem also explores the contrasting force of life, framing both as relentless, all-consuming cycles. The duality of life and death is evoked through vivid imagery, progressive repetition, and a structure that mimics the cyclical and never-ending nature of existence and non-existence.

The poem opens with the invocation of the word 'death,' presented as a term so powerful that it causes "the whole room [to] freeze." Even inanimate objects like "couches" and "lamps" are anthropomorphized, paralyzed by the word. The imagery of a "squirrel suddenly aware it is being looked at" encapsulates the existential awareness that comes with contemplating mortality. The poem suggests that death's very utterance has the power to still life, to create a pause that echoes with gravitas.

However, this is not where the exploration ends. The continuous saying of the word 'death' turns it into "another syllable," normalizing it. Life goes on "with the jerky texture of an old film strip," emphasizing the concept that, even as we contemplate death, life moves forward, indifferent and inexorable. It is a powerful commentary on how the constant looming of death both interrupts and perpetuates the rhythm of life.

The middle stanza juxtaposes life and death as equally "voracious" entities. They "swallow all," leaving neither "satisfied" nor "filled." This forms the crux of the poem-both life and death are relentless cycles that consume everything in their path. This equalizing view removes the hierarchy often associated with life being preferable to death, or vice versa. It is an acknowledgment of the complex, paradoxical nature of existence where life and death are not opposites but part of a continuum.

The poem could have ended with this balanced revelation, but it adds a coda in parentheses: "(but the vanished, the vanished beloved, o where?)." This poignant addition brings the abstract contemplation of death down to a deeply personal level. For all the philosophical equanimity between life and death, the absence of a "vanished beloved" leaves an unresolved question, an emptiness that neither life nor death can fill. The phrase adds an emotional depth, introducing longing and perhaps even a hint of regret or sorrow.

Overall, "Poem With Two Endings" engages with the universal themes of life and death in a way that is both intellectually stimulating and emotionally resonant. It serves as a meditation on the cyclical, unquenchable nature of life and death, while also acknowledging the very human feelings of loss and longing that interrupt this cycle. It's a multifaceted work that compels the reader to confront the inescapable realities of existence, making it a standout piece in Hirshfield's oeuvre.

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