Post by gabbybl112 on May 31, 2013 19:36:25 GMT -5
Jane Hirshfield was born in New York City. She grew up in a stable home and knew from a very young age that she wanted to be a writer and poet. She received her education from Princeton University in the first graduating class to include women. After graduation, she went to San Francisco to study at the Zen Center, where she was immersed in Zen Buddhism. Zen teaches about achieving enlightenment through meditation. Her poetry has been greatly influenced through her study of Zen. Even brancing further than Zen, she got a lot of inspiration from Western and Asian Culture.
The main aspect of Hirshfield’s poetry that sets her apart from other is her use of simplicity. Her use of language is clear and easy to understand which makes her poetry that much more meaningful. Although Hirshfield gets much inspiration from Zen she “always [feels] a slight dismay if [she’s] called a ‘Zen’ poet. [She is] not. [She is] a human poet, that’s all.” She uses natural and domestic imagery in her poetry to comment on many different aspects of life.
Hirshfield’s poetry addresses the meaning of human existence. She toys with themes such as loss and despair, but also love. She looks at the world through a lens of simplicity. To Hirshfield “a hand is not four fingers and a thumb,” but a window to the human soul. She looks at an action as involuntary as balance and points out that it “ is noticed most when almost failed.” Hirshfield’s poetry addresses the disappointment that life brings because so often “the heart that set out for Peru arrives in China.” The brilliance behind her poetry is her ability look at even the most common placed item, like an “apple” and to find meaning in it that everyone can relate to and apply to one’s own life.
She is currently the author of seven books of poetry and has written a book of essays. Her awards include The Poetry Center Book Award, Columbia University's Translation Center Award, the Commonwealth Club of California Poetry Medal, and the Bay Area Book Reviewers Award. Her book of poetry Given Sugar, Given Salt was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle award. On top of this, Hirshfield’s experience as being one of the first women graduate’s of Princeton has lead to her publishing of two anthologies of poetry written by women. She has helped many women be recognized in the world of poetry.
It is now my great honor to present Jane Hirshfield who will grace us with her wonderful poetry.
Word Count: 428
The main aspect of Hirshfield’s poetry that sets her apart from other is her use of simplicity. Her use of language is clear and easy to understand which makes her poetry that much more meaningful. Although Hirshfield gets much inspiration from Zen she “always [feels] a slight dismay if [she’s] called a ‘Zen’ poet. [She is] not. [She is] a human poet, that’s all.” She uses natural and domestic imagery in her poetry to comment on many different aspects of life.
Hirshfield’s poetry addresses the meaning of human existence. She toys with themes such as loss and despair, but also love. She looks at the world through a lens of simplicity. To Hirshfield “a hand is not four fingers and a thumb,” but a window to the human soul. She looks at an action as involuntary as balance and points out that it “ is noticed most when almost failed.” Hirshfield’s poetry addresses the disappointment that life brings because so often “the heart that set out for Peru arrives in China.” The brilliance behind her poetry is her ability look at even the most common placed item, like an “apple” and to find meaning in it that everyone can relate to and apply to one’s own life.
She is currently the author of seven books of poetry and has written a book of essays. Her awards include The Poetry Center Book Award, Columbia University's Translation Center Award, the Commonwealth Club of California Poetry Medal, and the Bay Area Book Reviewers Award. Her book of poetry Given Sugar, Given Salt was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle award. On top of this, Hirshfield’s experience as being one of the first women graduate’s of Princeton has lead to her publishing of two anthologies of poetry written by women. She has helped many women be recognized in the world of poetry.
It is now my great honor to present Jane Hirshfield who will grace us with her wonderful poetry.
Word Count: 428