Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In “Final Solution: Jobs, Leaving”, Simon J. Ortiz presents a poignant reflection on the struggles and sacrifices experienced by families, particularly within Indigenous and working-class communities, in the face of economic necessity. The poem explores themes of loss, displacement, labor, and the personal toll that the pursuit of survival takes on families. Ortiz’s language conveys the emotional complexity of leaving home for work, the enduring hope for reunion, and the relentless cycle of labor that defines many people's lives. Through this exploration, the poem also delves into the larger socio-political forces that shape individual destinies, while also pointing to the strength and resilience that arises from such hardship.

The poem opens with a stark, repetitive pattern in the lines "They would leave / on Sundays from the depot in Grants." This regular departure, coupled with the word "always" repeated throughout, emphasizes the inevitability and routine of the separation. The "goodbye" and the plea from the children, "Daddy, please come back. Please don't go," capture the painful emotional weight of these departures, framing them as not just physical separations but emotional wounds. The departure of the father, central to the family's survival and structure, becomes a symbol of sacrifice and the harsh realities of economic necessity.

Ortiz lists several towns—"Winslow, / Flagstaff, / Seligman, / Barstow"—places that may seem ordinary but are tied to the movement of families seeking work in distant places. The repetition of these names conjures a sense of dislocation and wandering, as if the family’s existence is defined by a series of temporary stops rather than a stable home. This constant movement is not out of choice but necessity, underscoring the poem’s commentary on the cyclical and inescapable nature of labor migration.

In the middle section of the poem, Ortiz presents the cold, practical reasons behind these departures: "We had to buy groceries, / had to have clothes, homes, roofs, / windows. Surrounded by the United States, / we had come to need money." These lines emphasize the fundamental need for survival—groceries, clothes, shelter—all basic human necessities that, in this context, require the sacrifice of family unity. The juxtaposition of these basic needs with the emotional pain of separation highlights the tragedy of a society where such separations become an accepted part of life, driven by an overarching economic system.

"The solution was to change, / to leave, to go to jobs," Ortiz offers, presenting the migration for work as a necessary response to an otherwise unyielding situation. The mention of states like Utah, California, Idaho, and Oregon reflects the far-reaching nature of this labor migration, hinting at both the vastness of the American landscape and the sense of an inescapable cycle for those in such positions. The children’s tears and the anger of the women provide an emotional backdrop to these actions, creating a contrast between the personal, familial pain and the impersonal nature of the economic system driving this behavior.

The poem shifts to a powerful passage about the work done on the railroad, a grueling labor that demands physical sacrifice. Ortiz writes, "Hearts. Blood. Bones / and skin. Wrenched muscles." These visceral images convey the deep toll that labor takes on the body, evoking a physicality that speaks to the real cost of survival. The rhetorical question, "You ever pick up a rail? / With your bare hands," emphasizes the arduous nature of the work, calling attention to the pain and exhaustion involved. The lines "And they died too" serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of this labor—how many who endured such work paid the ultimate price in their physical suffering and eventual deaths. The poem draws attention to the emotional residue left in the wake of these deaths, including both hatred for the circumstances and hope for change.

Ortiz incorporates a letter, "American Fork, Utah, February, 1959," which serves as a poignant moment of connection amidst the chaos. The father’s letter, filled with love and care for his family, underscores the emotional distance and the longing for reunion. "I hope you are all well / as I am," the father writes, but his words carry the undercurrent of loneliness and sacrifice. His reminder to "always love / your mothers" reinforces family bonds, even from afar. The letter provides a brief moment of tenderness, contrasting with the painful separation that has been established in the earlier parts of the poem.

The closing lines of the poem return to the theme of waiting, with the repetition of "Train. O Daddy, O Daddy. Train / would come thundering, thundering / thundering toward us." The train, representing both the possibility of reunion and the harsh reality of separation, becomes a metaphor for time and its passage. The anticipation of the train’s arrival speaks to the hope that sustains the family, even as years pass without the return of the father. The children's changing reactions—laughter, tears, or silence—mirror the fluctuating emotional landscape of those left behind, caught between hope and despair.

The poem closes with a declaration of strength and resilience: "Our own solution will be strength: hearts, blood, bones, skin, hope and love." Ortiz contrasts the earlier notion of "the solution" being migration with this final assertion that the true answer lies in the endurance of the family unit and its collective strength. The "woman anger and courage" and "the People's voice" refer to the power and resilience of those who, in the face of such hardship, draw strength from each other, from their shared history, and from their continued hope for a better future.

In “Final Solution: Jobs, Leaving,” Ortiz offers a compelling exploration of the cost of survival in a world where labor, sacrifice, and separation define the experience of many working-class families. Through a combination of visceral imagery, emotional weight, and personal reflection, the poem reveals the emotional toll of economic necessity while also highlighting the strength and resilience of the human spirit in the face of such adversity. It speaks to the larger societal forces that shape individual lives, while also honoring the personal and familial connections that endure despite the hardships.

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