Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

Janice Mirikitani’s "Generations of Women: 1. Issei" is a haunting and lyrical portrait of the Issei, the first generation of Japanese immigrants to America, with its focus on a woman shaped by a lifetime of labor, loss, and quiet resilience. Through vivid imagery and an elegiac tone, the poem captures the weight of cultural tradition, systemic racism, and personal sacrifice, while honoring the strength and dignity of the speaker’s subject.

The poem begins with a depiction of the woman, “rocking to ritual,” as she rests in a blue dress faded by time and toil. The rhythm of her rocking connects her to both the cyclical nature of her daily labor and the enduring rituals of her culture. This image of weariness—her knees “turned inward from weariness”—sets the tone for the poem, which weaves together physical exhaustion and emotional endurance as defining aspects of her life. Her work, described as “sacks of meal, corn, barley,” is emblematic of the backbreaking labor undertaken by many Issei women, whose efforts sustained their families while often going unacknowledged.

The poem’s emotional core lies in the recent burial of her husband, a man who shared in the physical and emotional weight of their immigrant experience. The remnants of incense, still gathered in her knotted hands, symbolize both her grief and the rituals of care and devotion that defined their relationship. Her descriptions of his body—swollen feet, a back “steel-girded” and “muscled from carrying calves”—convey the toll of a lifetime of labor, while also underscoring the quiet heroism of his efforts to build a life for their family in unforgiving circumstances. The gardens they created together, “alive with camellias, peaches, clover,” stand as fleeting symbols of hope and beauty amid hardship.

The speaker’s reflections reveal a complex interplay between tradition, identity, and longing. She imagines her own burial in a “gold-threaded wedding kimono” adorned with cranes and wisteria, symbols of grace, longevity, and connection to her Japanese heritage. This vision contrasts with the stark reality of her life, where the scent of incense and the weight of toil have become ingrained in her very being. Her yearning “to fly with the birds in this eternal silk” expresses a desire for liberation from the constraints of her physical existence and a reunion with the husband whose death has left her untethered.

Mirikitani shifts the focus to the social and cultural challenges faced by Issei women, recounting an encounter at a store where the woman is met with a racial slur: “JAP.” The clerk’s word, spat out like a “white wall,” highlights the racism and exclusion endured by Japanese immigrants, even as they contributed tirelessly to the country that sought to marginalize them. The detail of her “respectable shoes,” hardened leather meant to withstand both physical and emotional hardships, reflects her quiet dignity and resilience in the face of such indignities. The absence of tears in this moment—“There are no tears for moments like these”—speaks to the necessity of endurance, of internalizing pain rather than succumbing to it.

The poem’s language is both spare and deeply evocative, creating a rich interplay between the tangible and the symbolic. The imagery of the body—knotted hands, a steel-girded back, leather shoes—underscores the physicality of the Issei woman’s life, while the references to camellias, cranes, and wisteria evoke the beauty and fragility of her dreams and heritage. The juxtaposition of these elements reflects the duality of her existence: a life marked by hardship and perseverance, yet rooted in cultural richness and quiet strength.

Mirikitani’s portrayal of the Issei woman is deeply respectful and nuanced, capturing both the individual and collective experiences of this generation. The woman’s labor, grief, and resilience are framed not as isolated struggles but as part of a larger narrative of survival and sacrifice, one that resonates across generations. Her silence, whether in the face of racism or the demands of tradition, becomes a powerful statement of endurance and dignity, even as the poem hints at the costs of such silence.

Generations of Women: 1. Issei is a profound exploration of identity, legacy, and the quiet heroism of women who endured unimaginable hardships to provide for their families and preserve their cultural traditions. Through its vivid imagery and deeply empathetic voice, the poem honors the resilience of the Issei while inviting readers to reflect on the intergenerational impact of their sacrifices. Mirikitani’s tribute is both a celebration of strength and a lament for the injustices that defined their lives, leaving a lasting impression of reverence and sorrow.

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