Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Tess Gallagher’s poem “The Women of Auschwitz” is a profound reflection on suffering, transformation, and the powerful symbolism of hair. The poem weaves together personal experience, historical memory, and philosophical insight, creating a rich tapestry that examines the depths of human resilience and the significance of ritual and sacrifice.

The poem begins with a stark contrast between the speaker’s current experience and the historical trauma of the women of Auschwitz. The mention of their “shorn heads” and “naked bodies” immediately evokes the dehumanization and brutality they endured. This haunting image sets the tone for the poem, grounding it in a deep awareness of historical suffering.

As the speaker undergoes the ritual of having her hair cut by Teresa, she is acutely aware of the difference in context. The red ribbon and the careful, almost ceremonial cutting of her braid with the “scissors stutter[ing] against the thick black hank” stand in contrast to the violent and humiliating shavings endured by the women of Auschwitz. The hair, described as “mute,” symbolizes both the loss and the silent witness to the suffering.

The poem then delves into a vivid memory, imagining how the women might have leaned into each other for support, their “night-blooming souls” gazing back with incredulity. This empathetic connection across time highlights the shared human experience of suffering and the resilience that emerges in the face of it.

Gallagher’s description of the scissors as “yawing at the anchor rope” and the metaphor of an arm-thick rope made of women’s hair used in ancient China further emphasize the weight and historical continuity of this ritual. The hair becomes a powerful symbol of strength, endurance, and the bonds that tie us to past generations.

As the speaker’s hair is cut, the poem captures the transformation with the image of the “metallic stork” delivering her into a new form. This rebirth is marked by the fresh, bloodless end of the braid and the subsequent buzzing off of the remaining hair. The act of cutting away the hair is both a preemptive strike against the inevitabilities of illness and a symbolic shedding of the old self.

The poem then shifts to a meditation on loss and renewal, with the speaker acknowledging the physical losses she will endure—hair, toenails, fingernails, eyelashes, and a breast—due to medical treatments. Setouchi-san’s explanation of why Buddhist nuns shave their heads, to simplify and reveal the true form, resonates deeply with the speaker’s experience. This ritualistic shaving becomes a means of embracing and embodying the essential self.

The poem’s exploration of the women of Auschwitz who could not choose their fate contrasts sharply with the speaker’s own journey of voluntary transformation. This juxtaposition underscores the importance of agency and the power of choice in defining one’s identity.

Gallagher’s reflection on the ongoing war in desert cities, and the sanitized portrayal of violence in the news, further contextualizes the personal ritual within a broader critique of contemporary conflicts and their hidden cruelties. The speaker’s act of making “visible the bare altar of the skull” becomes a testament to uncovering and confronting the hidden truths of suffering.

The poem concludes with a moment of tenderness and solidarity, as friends and loved ones offer support and gifts, symbolizing their presence and care. The speaker’s transformation is witnessed and validated, culminating in a serene and radiant acceptance of her new self. Her “moon-smile,” refusing to belong to the cruelties of war, signifies a profound inner peace and readiness to face whatever comes next.

“The Women of Auschwitz” is a deeply moving exploration of the interplay between personal transformation, historical memory, and the resilience of the human spirit. Gallagher’s masterful use of imagery, metaphor, and empathetic reflection invites readers to consider the ways in which we honor and carry forward the legacies of those who have suffered, while also embracing our own journeys of healing and renewal.

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