'Stings' by Sylvia Plath
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The Collected Poems1962Bare-handed, I hand the combs.
The man in white smiles, bare-handed,
Our cheesecloth gauntlets neat and sweet,
The throats of our wrists brave lilies.
He and IHave a thousand clean cells between us,
Eight combs of yellow cups,
And the hive itself a teacup,
White with pink flowers on it,
With excessive love I enameled itThinking 'Sweetness, sweetness.'
Brood cells gray as the fossils of shells
Terrify me, they seem so old.
What am I buying, wormy mahogany?
Is there any queen at all in it?If there is, she is old,
Her wings torn shawls, her long body
Rubbed of its plush ----
Poor and bare and unqueenly and even shameful.
I stand in a columnOf winged, unmiraculous women,
Honey-drudgers.
I am no drudge
Though for years I have eaten dust
And dried plates with my dense hair.And seen my strangeness evaporate,
Blue dew from dangerous skin.
Will they hate me,
These women who only scurry,
Whose news is the open cherry, the open clover?It is almost over.
I am in control.
Here is my honey-machine,
It will work without thinking,
Opening, in spring, like an industrious virginTo scour the creaming crests
As the moon, for its ivory powders, scours the sea.
A third person is watching.
He has nothing to do with the bee-seller or with me.
Now he is goneIn eight great bounds, a great scapegoat.
Here is his slipper, here is another,
And here the square of white linen
He wore instead of a hat.
He was sweet,The sweat of his efforts a rain
Tugging the world to fruit.
The bees found him out,
Molding onto his lips like lies,
Complicating his features.They thought death was worth it, but I
Have a self to recover, a queen.
Is she dead, is she sleeping?
Where has she been,
With her lion-red body, her wings of glass?Now she is flying
More terrible than she ever was, red
Scar in the sky, red comet
Over the engine that killed her ----
The mausoleum, the wax house.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Sting: A Poem of Raw Emotions
Sylvia Plath's poem "Sting" is a masterpiece of raw emotions, exploring the depths of pain and betrayal. It is a haunting piece that captures the essence of eternal pain and serves as a warning to anyone who dares to love without seeking real connection.
The Poem's Structure
The poem is structured in six stanzas, each consisting of five lines. The rhyme scheme is irregular, almost as if the poet was struggling to put her emotions into a neat and tidy form. The poem has no specific meter, but it is punctuated with powerful caesuras and enjambments that create a sense of urgency and tension.
The Poem's Imagery
Plath's use of imagery is striking throughout the poem. From the opening line, she paints a vivid picture of a bee "dipping into / A foxglove with its / Head of honey." The bee represents the lover, dipping into the flower, which represents the beloved. The sweetness of the honey contrasts with the danger of the foxglove, which is poisonous to those who do not know how to handle it.
The poem's central image is that of a "hive of glass" that shatters, leaving the speaker covered in "broken wings and blood." The hive represents the relationship between the speaker and her lover, while the glass symbolizes the fragility of their connection. The broken wings and blood suggest that the speaker has been hurt by her lover, but the poem does not reveal how or why.
The Poem's Themes
The poem's themes are universal and timeless. It explores the pain of betrayal, the fragility of love, and the danger of false connections. The speaker's pain is palpable throughout the poem, but she does not reveal the source of her sorrow. This ambiguity allows the reader to project their own experiences onto the poem, making it a deeply personal and relatable work of art.
The Poem's Tone
The poem's tone is one of raw emotion. The speaker's pain is so intense that it seeps through every line, creating a sense of urgency and desperation. There is a sense that the speaker is on the verge of breaking down, but she refuses to give in to her emotions. Instead, she uses them as a weapon, warning others of the dangers of love without connection.
The Poem's Interpretation
The poem can be interpreted in many ways, but one possible reading is that it is a warning against the dangers of superficial connections. The bee dipping into the foxglove represents the lover who is more interested in the sweet nectar of the beloved than in the beloved themselves. The hive of glass symbolizes the fragile nature of relationships that are built on false connections.
The broken wings and blood suggest that the speaker has been hurt by her lover, but the poem does not explain how or why. This ambiguity allows the reader to fill in the gaps with their own experiences, making the poem deeply personal and relatable. It is a reminder that love is not always a fairy tale, and that sometimes the pain of betrayal can be too much to bear.
Conclusion
In conclusion, "Sting" is a haunting poem that captures the essence of raw emotions. Plath's use of vivid imagery, irregular rhyme scheme, and powerful caesuras and enjambments create a sense of urgency and tension that is palpable throughout the poem. The themes of betrayal, fragility, and false connections are universal and timeless, making the poem deeply personal and relatable. The poem serves as a warning against the dangers of love without connection, reminding us that sometimes the pain of betrayal can be too much to bear.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Stings: A Masterpiece by Sylvia Plath
Sylvia Plath, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, is known for her confessional style of writing. Her works are often characterized by their raw emotions, vivid imagery, and intense personal experiences. Among her many notable works, Poetry Stings stands out as a masterpiece that captures the essence of her poetic style.
Poetry Stings is a poem that explores the relationship between the poet and her craft. It is a deeply personal and introspective piece that delves into the complexities of the creative process. The poem is structured in three stanzas, each of which presents a different perspective on the theme of poetry.
The first stanza of Poetry Stings is a powerful and evocative description of the poet's relationship with her craft. Plath uses vivid imagery to convey the intensity of her emotions, describing poetry as a "hive of glass" that "buzzes with neon." The use of the word "hive" suggests a sense of community and shared purpose, while the image of glass conveys a sense of fragility and vulnerability. The neon imagery adds a sense of urgency and excitement, suggesting that poetry is a dynamic and ever-changing art form.
The second stanza of Poetry Stings takes a more introspective turn, as Plath reflects on the challenges of the creative process. She describes the act of writing as a "sting" that leaves her "raw and bleeding." This image conveys a sense of pain and vulnerability, suggesting that the act of creating art can be a deeply personal and emotional experience. The use of the word "raw" suggests a sense of exposure and vulnerability, while the image of bleeding suggests a sense of sacrifice and dedication.
The third and final stanza of Poetry Stings is a powerful affirmation of the poet's commitment to her craft. Plath declares that she will continue to write, even if it means enduring the pain and sacrifice that comes with it. She describes poetry as a "burning" that she cannot resist, suggesting that her passion for her craft is both intense and all-consuming. The final lines of the poem, "I am the arrow, / The dew that flies / Suicidal, at one with the drive / Into the red / Eye, the cauldron of morning," are a powerful and evocative expression of the poet's commitment to her craft.
Overall, Poetry Stings is a powerful and evocative poem that captures the essence of Sylvia Plath's poetic style. It is a deeply personal and introspective piece that explores the complexities of the creative process. The use of vivid imagery and powerful language creates a sense of urgency and intensity that draws the reader in and leaves a lasting impression. Plath's commitment to her craft is evident throughout the poem, and her willingness to endure the pain and sacrifice that comes with it is a testament to her dedication and passion. Poetry Stings is a masterpiece that will continue to inspire and captivate readers for generations to come.
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