Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

In "The Woman Hanging from the Thirteenth Floor Window," Joy Harjo presents a haunting and powerful narrative that captures the life and inner turmoil of a woman suspended both literally and metaphorically. The poem uses vivid imagery and deep emotional resonance to explore themes of identity, struggle, and resilience.

The poem begins with a stark and gripping image: "She is the woman hanging from the 13th floor / window. Her hands are pressed white against the / concrete moulding of the tenement building." This immediate portrayal of a woman hanging from a high window sets a dramatic and tense scene. The detail of her "hands pressed white" against the building emphasizes her desperation and the physical strain of her situation.

Harjo quickly establishes the woman's connection to her surroundings and her personal history: "She / hangs from the 13th floor window in east Chicago, / with a swirl of birds over her head. They could / be a halo, or a storm of glass waiting to crush her." The imagery of the birds creates a dual sense of potential salvation or destruction, reflecting the uncertainty of her fate. The setting in east Chicago grounds the poem in a specific socio-economic context, suggesting a backdrop of urban struggle.

The woman is described as someone who "thinks she will be set free." This line introduces the woman's internal conflict and her hope for liberation from her circumstances, whether through escape or a tragic end. Harjo further humanizes her by detailing her relationships and roles: "She is a woman of children, of the baby, Carlos, / and of Margaret, and of Jimmy who is the oldest. / She is her mother’s daughter and her father’s son." These connections emphasize her multifaceted identity and the weight of her responsibilities.

The poem reflects on her past, evoking memories of a simpler, perhaps happier time: "When she was young she ate wild rice on scraped down / plates in warm wood rooms. It was in the farther / north and she was the baby then. They rocked her." This nostalgia contrasts sharply with her present precariousness, highlighting the distance between past comfort and present despair.

Harjo's depiction of Lake Michigan serves as both a physical and metaphorical element: "She sees Lake Michigan lapping at the shores of / herself. It is a dizzy hole of water and the rich / live in tall glass houses at the edge of it." The lake represents both a boundary and a mirror to her emotional state, with its restless waters reflecting her own inner turbulence and feelings of entrapment.

The poem addresses the broader social context, noting that "She is the woman hanging from the 13th floor window / on the Indian side of town." This detail underscores her identity as a Native American woman and the intersectional challenges she faces, including poverty and marginalization. Her physical description, with her "worn levis" and "soft belly from her children’s births," adds to the realism and relatability of her character.

As the woman hangs, she hears various voices, both internal and external: "The woman hanging from the 13th floor hears voices. / They come to her in the night when the lights have gone / dim." These voices range from comforting to cruel, reflecting the internal and external pressures she faces. Some voices encourage her to jump, while others offer empathy and support, pulling their children close and wishing to help her.

The woman's internal monologue reveals her deep reflections and conflicting emotions: "She thinks of Carlos, of Margaret, of Jimmy. / She thinks of her father, and of her mother. / She thinks of all the women she has been, of all / the men." These thoughts convey the complexity of her identity and the multitude of roles and experiences that define her. Her contemplation of her skin color, the Chicago streets, and natural landscapes like "waterfalls and pines" illustrates her longing for beauty and peace amidst chaos.

Harjo poignantly captures the woman's despair and yearning for resolution: "Her mind chatters like neon and northside bars. / She thinks of the 4 a.m. lonelinesses that have folded / her up like death, discordant, without logical and / beautiful conclusion." This line vividly portrays her mental state, marked by confusion and a sense of unfinished business, as she grapples with her existence.

The poem concludes with a powerful image of the woman crying for "the lost beauty of her own life." She sees the sun setting over Chicago, symbolizing both an ending and a potential new beginning. The final lines leave her fate ambiguous: "She thinks she remembers listening to her own life / break loose, as she falls from the 13th floor / window on the east side of Chicago, or as she / climbs back up to claim herself again." This ambiguity reflects the ongoing struggle between despair and hope, underscoring the resilience of the human spirit.

"The Woman Hanging from the Thirteenth Floor Window" is a profound exploration of a woman's struggle with identity, responsibility, and the desire for liberation. Through rich, evocative imagery and a deep emotional narrative, Joy Harjo invites readers to empathize with the woman's plight and to reflect on the broader social and personal issues that shape her experience.

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