'The Woman At The Washington Zoo' by Randall Jarrell

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The saris go by me from the embassies.Cloth from the moon.Cloth from another planet.They look back at the leopard like the leopard.And I. . . .this print of mine, that has kept its color
Alive through so many cleanings; this dull null
Navy I wear to work, and wear from work, and so
To my bed, so to my grave, with no
Complaints, no comment: neither from my chief,
The Deputy Chief Assistant, nor his chief--
Only I complain. . . . this serviceable
Body that no sunlight dyes, no hand suffuses
But, dome-shadowed, withering among columns,
Wavy beneath fountains--small, far-off, shining
In the eyes of animals, these beings trapped
As I am trapped but not, themselves, the trap,
Aging, but without knowledge of their age,
Kept safe here, knowing not of death, for death--
Oh, bars of my own body, open, open!The world goes by my cage and never sees me.
And there come not to me, as come to these,
The wild beasts, sparrows pecking the llamas' grain,
Pigeons settling on the bears' bread, buzzards
Tearing the meat the flies have clouded. . . .Vulture,
When you come for the white rat that the foxes left,Take off the red helmet of your head, the black
Wings that have shadowed me, and step to me as man:
The wild brother at whose feet the white wolves fawn,
To whose hand of power the great lioness
Stalks, purring. . . .You know what I was,
You see what I am: change me, change me!

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Woman At The Washington Zoo: A Masterpiece of Modern Poetry

If you're looking for a poem that is both haunting and beautiful, look no further than Randall Jarrell's "The Woman At The Washington Zoo." This powerful and moving work of poetry is a masterful exploration of the human condition and the struggle to find meaning in a world that can be both cruel and beautiful.

At its core, "The Woman At The Washington Zoo" is a meditation on the isolation and loneliness that can come from living in a society that has lost its connection to the natural world. The poem tells the story of a woman who visits the National Zoo in Washington D.C. and becomes transfixed by the animals she sees there. As she watches the creatures in their cages, she is struck by the sense that they are somehow more alive than she is, more in touch with the raw vitality of the world outside the walls that confine them.

Jarrell's use of language in this poem is nothing short of extraordinary. From the opening lines, we are drawn into the woman's world and the surreal landscape of the zoo:

The crowds were buzzing like gnats, crazed / and muted, and hung / on the wire fences.

In just a few words, Jarrell conveys a sense of the zoo's oppressive atmosphere, the noise and chaos that surround the woman as she makes her way through the crowds. And yet, there is also a sense of wonder in the language here, as if the poet himself is awestruck by the sight of this strange and wondrous world.

As the poem progresses, we are introduced to the woman's thoughts and feelings, her sense of isolation and despair. She is "alone in the cage of the world," a victim of the society that has created such a place as the zoo. And yet, she also feels a strange kinship with the animals she sees there, a sense that they too are trapped in a world that is not their own:

The panther / consumed his own darkness, and in the booth / fat vultures / examined scraps already examined.

Here, Jarrell uses vivid and striking imagery to convey the sense of despair and hopelessness that pervades the zoo. The panther, consumed by his own darkness, represents the woman's sense of isolation and despair, while the vultures, examining scraps already examined, suggest the futility of her search for meaning in a world that has already consumed itself.

And yet, for all its darkness and despair, "The Woman At The Washington Zoo" is also a work of great beauty and lyricism. Jarrell's language is often poetic and musical, with a rhythm and cadence that draws the reader in and holds them captive. In lines like "The world is very dusty, uncle," and "The great black / puma, juggler of / day and night," we are treated to a kind of poetry that is both elegant and deeply moving, a testament to the power of language to convey the ineffable mysteries of the human experience.

Ultimately, "The Woman At The Washington Zoo" is a poem that speaks to the deepest longings of the human soul, a work of poetry that captures the beauty and despair of the world we live in. With its powerful imagery and haunting language, Jarrell's poem is a masterpiece of modern poetry, a work that will continue to captivate and inspire readers for generations to come.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The Woman At The Washington Zoo: A Masterpiece of Poetry

Randall Jarrell's "The Woman At The Washington Zoo" is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a powerful and moving work that captures the essence of human emotions and the complexities of the human condition. The poem is a reflection on the life of a woman who is trapped in a world that she cannot escape from. It is a poignant and thought-provoking work that has touched the hearts of many readers over the years.

The poem begins with a description of the woman at the zoo. She is standing alone, looking at the animals, and the speaker of the poem wonders what she is thinking. The woman is described as being "in her seventies" and "small, neat, and tidy." She is dressed in a "navy blue" coat and a "matching hat." The speaker notes that she is "not like the others" who are at the zoo. She is not there to enjoy the animals or to have a good time. She is there because she has nowhere else to go.

The poem then takes a turn as the speaker begins to describe the woman's life. She is a woman who has lived a hard life. She has been through "wars, wars, wars" and has seen "death, death, death." She has lost her husband and her son, and she is now alone in the world. The speaker notes that she is "like a small animal" who has been "hunted through the trees." She is a woman who has been beaten down by life, and she has no hope left.

The poem then takes another turn as the speaker begins to describe the woman's thoughts. The woman is looking at the animals, and she is thinking about how they are trapped in their cages. She is thinking about how they are "caged, caged, caged" and how they cannot escape. She is thinking about how they are "like prisoners" who are "waiting for the day of their execution." The woman is identifying with the animals, and she is feeling their pain.

The poem then takes a final turn as the speaker begins to describe the woman's emotions. The woman is feeling a sense of despair and hopelessness. She is feeling "trapped, trapped, trapped" and she is feeling like she cannot escape from her own life. The speaker notes that she is "crying, crying, crying" and that her tears are "like salt" on her face. The woman is overwhelmed by her emotions, and she is unable to control them.

The poem ends with a powerful and moving image. The woman is described as being "like a lioness" who has been "caged for years." She is a woman who has been beaten down by life, but she is still strong. She is still fighting, and she is still alive. The speaker notes that she is "beautiful, beautiful, beautiful" and that she is "free, free, free." The woman has found a way to escape from her own life, and she has found a way to be free.

In conclusion, "The Woman At The Washington Zoo" is a masterpiece of poetry. It is a powerful and moving work that captures the essence of human emotions and the complexities of the human condition. The poem is a reflection on the life of a woman who is trapped in a world that she cannot escape from. It is a poignant and thought-provoking work that has touched the hearts of many readers over the years. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry and its ability to capture the essence of the human experience.

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