'The End' by Sharon Olds

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We decided to have the abortion, became
killers together. The period that came
changed nothing. They were dead, that young couple
who had been for life.
As we talked of it in bed, the crash
was not a surprise. We went to the window,
looked at the crushed cars and the gleaming
curved shears of glass as if we had
done it. Cops pulled the bodies out
Bloody as births from the small, smoking
aperture of the door, laid them
on the hill, covered them with blankets that soaked
through. Blood
began to pour
down my legs into my slippers. I stood
where I was until they shot the bound
form into the black hole
of the ambulance and stood the other one
up, a bandage covering its head,
stained where the eyes had been.
The next morning I had to kneel
an hour on that floor, to clean up my blood,
rubbing with wet cloths at those glittering
translucent spots, as one has to soak
a long time to deglaze the pan
when the feast is over.

Anonymous submission.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The End: An Exploration of Sharon Olds' Masterpiece

Sharon Olds' poem "The End" is a haunting and beautifully crafted masterpiece of literary art. Written in the free-verse form, the poem explores the emotions and thoughts of a dying woman as she reflects on her life and prepares to pass on from this world. The poem is a powerful and poignant meditation on the nature of death, the human condition, and the fragility of life.

Literary Criticism

Olds' poem is filled with vivid and evocative imagery, such as "the huge night that has swallowed me up" and "the light that is no longer light." These images serve to convey the sense of loss and finality that the dying woman is experiencing. The poem's use of language is also striking, with Olds employing a range of poetic techniques, including enjambment, repetition, and metaphor, to create a powerful and moving work.

One of the most striking aspects of "The End" is the way in which the poem presents the dying woman's thoughts and emotions. Olds does not shy away from exploring the darker aspects of the human condition, and the poem is filled with a sense of despair and hopelessness. However, there is also a sense of acceptance and resignation in the poem, as the woman comes to terms with her own mortality and the inevitability of death.

At the same time, "The End" is also a deeply personal and intimate work. Olds draws extensively on her own experiences of loss and grief, and the poem is filled with a sense of raw emotion and vulnerability. This makes the poem all the more powerful and affecting, as it speaks to universal themes and experiences in a deeply personal and resonant way.

Interpretation

At its heart, "The End" is ultimately a meditation on the nature of mortality and the fragility of life. The poem speaks to the human condition in a profound and moving way, exploring the themes of loss, grief, and acceptance that we all must confront at some point in our lives.

One of the central metaphors of the poem is that of light and darkness. The dying woman speaks of the "light that is no longer light," and the darkness that is closing in around her. This metaphor is used to convey the sense of finality and loss that she is experiencing, as well as the existential darkness that lies beyond death.

At the same time, there is also a sense of transcendence in the poem, as the dying woman reflects on the beauty and wonder of the world around her. She speaks of "the night that has swallowed me up," and the vastness of the universe that lies beyond. This sense of wonder and awe is a reminder of the beauty and complexity of life, and of the importance of cherishing every moment that we have.

Ultimately, "The End" is a deeply moving and profound work of poetry. It speaks to the human condition in all of its complexity and beauty, exploring the themes of life, death, and the struggle to find meaning and purpose in the face of mortality. Sharon Olds' poem is a testament to the enduring power of poetry to touch our hearts and minds, and to speak to the deepest truths of the human experience.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

The End: A Poem of Closure and Acceptance

Sharon Olds’ poem, “The End,” is a powerful and moving piece that explores the themes of closure, acceptance, and the inevitability of death. The poem is written in free verse, with no set rhyme or meter, which allows Olds to convey her message in a raw and unfiltered way. In this analysis, we will explore the various literary devices used in the poem, as well as the deeper meaning behind the words.

The poem begins with the line, “After the last death, there is no more dying.” This line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, as it suggests that death is not something to be feared, but rather something that brings an end to all suffering. The use of the word “last” implies that there have been many deaths before this one, and that the speaker has come to accept death as a natural part of life.

Olds then goes on to describe the scene of the last death, using vivid imagery to paint a picture in the reader’s mind. She writes, “The last hands lift the last load of laundry from the washer, / And the last hands put it into the dryer.” This image of the last load of laundry being washed and dried is a metaphor for the end of life. It suggests that just as the laundry cycle comes to an end, so too does life.

The poem then takes a more personal turn, as Olds describes the death of her own mother. She writes, “The last eyes rest / And the last breath is taken / In and let out, in and let out.” This repetition of the phrase “in and let out” creates a sense of finality, as if the breaths are becoming slower and more labored until they finally come to a stop.

Olds then goes on to describe the aftermath of her mother’s death, writing, “And the heart that was last beating / Beats no more.” This line is particularly powerful, as it suggests that the heart is the last thing to stop beating, and that once it does, there is no more life left in the body.

The poem then takes a more philosophical turn, as Olds reflects on the meaning of life and death. She writes, “After the last death, there is no more dying, / And the souls rise up / Like the sighs of the dead, / And the souls rise up / To the light in the eyes of the living.” This image of the souls rising up suggests that death is not an end, but rather a transition to a new state of being. The use of the word “light” suggests that there is something positive and uplifting about this transition, and that it is not something to be feared.

Olds then concludes the poem with the line, “And the dead lie down, / Naked and alone, / In the eye of the living.” This line is particularly poignant, as it suggests that in death, we are stripped of all our worldly possessions and left with nothing but ourselves. The use of the word “naked” suggests a vulnerability and openness that is not present in life, and that in death, we are finally able to let go of all our fears and insecurities.

In conclusion, “The End” is a powerful and moving poem that explores the themes of closure, acceptance, and the inevitability of death. Through the use of vivid imagery and powerful metaphors, Sharon Olds is able to convey a message of hope and acceptance, suggesting that death is not something to be feared, but rather something that brings an end to all suffering. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to explore the deepest and most profound aspects of the human experience, and is a must-read for anyone interested in the art of poetry.

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