Classic and Contemporary Poetry: Explained

"Western Wind," by Sharon Olds, poignantly reflects on the cremation of the speaker's mother and the blending of her ashes with the natural world. The poem interweaves themes of loss, transformation, and the continuity of life through vivid imagery and a meditation on the elemental forces of nature.

The poem begins with a description of the "western wind" blowing from the Pacific, characterized as "that pattern / piece of the globe’s blue dress." This personification of the wind as part of a dress suggests the interconnectedness of the Earth's elements and sets a tone of natural beauty. The wind carries with it the essence of the sea, described in a list of coastal elements: "willet, heron, reed, mussel, / scallop, fault." This cataloging of natural phenomena evokes a rich, vibrant ecosystem, emphasizing the vitality of the natural world.

The speaker contemplates the possibility that the "little / puffs" of clouds carried by the wind might contain "the smoke of my mother’s flesh," referencing her recent cremation. This thought blurs the boundary between the physical remains and the ethereal elements, suggesting a spiritual or symbolic merging with the environment. The "downwind crematorium" is situated within this natural context, highlighting the juxtaposition of human rituals and the vast, indifferent forces of nature.

As the poem progresses, the speaker recalls the state of her mother's body, which had "diminished and hardened down" in death, becoming "a little singing sea on little / sea legs." This metaphor conveys a sense of fluidity and movement even in death, suggesting a transformation from a physical to a more ethereal state. The description of the body as "elkhorn, / kindling" emphasizes its fragility and readiness to be consumed by fire.

The moment of cremation is depicted with a mixture of reverence and vivid imagery. The speaker imagines her mother’s body being fed "into the Shadrach Meshach / Abednego," referencing the biblical story of three men thrown into a fiery furnace. This allusion adds a layer of spiritual significance, suggesting a trial by fire and the hope of purification or transformation. The result is described as a mixture of "gentle ash / rough with shards, radius and molars," a poignant reminder of the physical remnants of life. The "genies of buttery vapor, the fume / spirits" that rise from the crematorium are envisioned as part of the natural cycle, dispersing into the sky and becoming one with the elements.

The poem concludes with a serene and reflective image of these "fume spirits" moving "slowly, low, up over the hills / on their way to the ice fields." This final journey of the ashes suggests a return to the earth's natural processes, blending the personal loss with the broader cycles of nature. The mention of "veery-egg blue" in the vapor evokes a delicate, almost sacred image, suggesting a sense of peace and continuation.

"Western Wind" by Sharon Olds is a meditation on the impermanence of life and the ways in which we return to the natural world. Through rich, descriptive language and thoughtful reflections, Olds captures the profound experience of mourning and the transformation of the physical into the spiritual. The poem invites readers to consider the beauty and inevitability of the natural cycles, even in the face of personal grief, finding solace in the interconnectedness of all things.

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