Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In Jane Hirshfield's "Two Washings," the reader encounters an intimate, mundane moment-a woman in a bathroom, washing her face-yet within this simplicity lies an exploration of aging, realization, and the continuity of life's everyday routines. The poem delicately balances the profundity of life changes with the normality of daily chores, creating a poignant juxtaposition that resonates emotionally.

The poem opens with "One morning in a strange bathroom," immediately setting a tone of unfamiliarity. This is not a routine morning in a well-known space; it's a morning that feels alien in some way. The woman is engaged in the simple act of washing her face, specifically "to wash the sleep / from her eyelids' corners." What should be a straightforward task becomes more complex, prompting a sudden understanding: "Ah, she thinks, it begins." Though Hirshfield doesn't specify what "it" is, the context strongly suggests the onset of aging, the moment of reckoning when one realizes that the body is changing, and the rituals of youth no longer suffice.

The poem then transitions from this moment of awareness to the ordinary routine of making soup. This shift is significant, as it implies a return to the quotidian even amidst personal revelations. The action is described meticulously-"first rerinsing the beans, then lifting the cast-iron pot / back onto the stove with two steadying hands." The details, especially the "two steadying hands," indicate that this is a task requiring effort and care, subtly linking back to the struggle in the bathroom. Aging doesn't stop the routines of life; instead, it incorporates itself into them, necessitating "two steadying hands" where perhaps one hand might have sufficed before.

In terms of structure, the poem's brevity and lack of rhyme scheme lend it a quality of starkness, mirroring the simple yet heavy realizations it portrays. Hirshfield's language is straightforward but filled with subtext, allowing the reader to sense the depths beneath the routine activities. The enjambment of "from her eyelids' corners, / until she understands," effectively divides a single thought into two lines, highlighting the moment of realization as distinct and weighty. This interruption of flow reflects the woman's own disruption, as she becomes conscious of the significant, albeit subtle, changes in her body and life.

"Two Washings" serves as a gentle, empathetic exploration of the inescapable process of aging. It captures the exact moment when realization dawns, but rather than allowing this recognition to become a point of stagnation, it situates it within the context of life's ongoing, humble tasks. Through this juxtaposition, Hirshfield celebrates the resiliency of human spirit and the inevitability of change, acknowledging that life-with all its complex, simple, and transformational moments-goes on.

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