'The Inventory Of Goodbye' by Anne Sexton

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I have a pack of letters,
I have a pack of memories.
I could cut out the eyes of both.
I could wear them like a patchwork apron.
I could stick them in the washer, the drier,
and maybe some of the pain would float off like dirt?
Perhaps down the disposal I could grind up the loss.
Besides -- what a bargain -- no expensive phone calls.
No lengthy trips on planes in the fog.
No manicky laughter or blessing from an odd-lot priest.
That priest is probably still floating on a fog pillow.
Blessing us. Blessing us.Am I to bless the lost you,
sitting here with my clumsy soul?
Propaganda time is over.
I sit here on the spike of truth.
No one to hate except the slim fish of memory
that slides in and out of my brain.
No one to hate except the acute feel of my nightgown
brushing my body like a light that has gone out.
It recalls the kiss we invented, tongues like poems,
meeting, returning, inviting, causing a fever of need.
Laughter, maps, cassettes, touch singing its path -
all to be broken and laid away in a tight strongbox.
The monotonous dead clog me up and there is only
black done in black that oozes from the strongbox.
I must disembowel it and then set the heart, the legs,
of two who were one upon a large woodpile
and ignite, as I was once ignited, and let it whirl
into flame, reaching the sky
making it dangerous with its red.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Inventory Of Goodbye: An Exploration of Anne Sexton's Masterful Poetry

Anne Sexton's "The Inventory Of Goodbye" is a remarkable piece of poetry that delves into the complexities of love, loss, and grief. Published in 1975, the poem is a part of her posthumous anthology titled "The Awful Rowing Toward God." Sexton is known for her confessional poetry, and this particular work is no exception.

At first glance, "The Inventory Of Goodbye" appears to be an elegy for a loved one who has passed away. However, as one delves deeper into the poem, it becomes clear that it is much more than that. It is a poetic inventory of all the things that the speaker must say goodbye to in order to move on from the loss that they have experienced. The poem is an exploration of the pain and grief that comes with letting go of someone or something that we love dearly.

Structure and Form

"The Inventory Of Goodbye" is a free-verse poem that is divided into three stanzas. The first stanza comprises of sixteen lines, the second has twelve, and the final stanza has eight lines. Each of these stanzas is further divided into smaller sections, which make the poem feel like a list or an inventory of things that the speaker must leave behind.

The poem is filled with repetition, which is used to emphasize the importance of the things that the speaker is letting go of. The repetition of the phrase "I say goodbye" at the beginning of each section of the poem creates a sense of finality and closure.

Themes

The themes that are explored in "The Inventory Of Goodbye" are universal and timeless. Sexton dives deep into the nature of loss, grief, and the process of letting go. She explores the physical and emotional impact of grief on the human psyche, and the toll it takes on our ability to function.

The poem also touches on the themes of memory and nostalgia. The speaker is not only saying goodbye to a person but also to the memories and moments that they shared with that person. The use of imagery and metaphor in the poem highlights the importance of these memories and the pain that comes with leaving them behind.

Imagery

Sexton's use of imagery in "The Inventory Of Goodbye" is what makes the poem so powerful. She uses a wide range of metaphors and symbols to describe the pain and grief that the speaker is experiencing.

The poem opens with the image of a "blackboard" on which the speaker has written a list of things that they must say goodbye to. This image sets the tone for the rest of the poem and creates a sense of finality and closure.

The speaker goes on to describe the physical impact of grief on their body, using images of "pumped-out tires" and "deflated balloons" to represent their emotional state. The use of these images creates a sense of vulnerability and fragility, highlighting the speaker's emotional turmoil.

The poem also contains several animalistic images, such as "a barking dog" and "a crow in a field." These images are used to represent the raw and primal nature of grief, and the way it can take over our lives.

Tone

The tone of "The Inventory Of Goodbye" is somber and reflective. Sexton uses language that is simple yet powerful to convey the emotional depth of the poem. The repetition of the phrase "I say goodbye" creates a sense of finality, while the use of vivid imagery and metaphor adds depth to the poem.

The poem is also imbued with a sense of hope, as the speaker recognizes that they must say goodbye in order to move on. The final two lines of the poem, "I am alive. I am alive. I am alive." highlight the speaker's resilience and determination to keep moving forward despite the pain of letting go.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Anne Sexton's "The Inventory Of Goodbye" is a masterful work of poetry that explores the complex nature of grief, loss, and the process of letting go. The poem is filled with vivid imagery and metaphor, which add depth and emotional weight to the work. The use of repetition and structure creates a sense of finality and closure, while the hopeful tone of the poem highlights the resilience of the human spirit. Overall, "The Inventory Of Goodbye" is a poignant and powerful work that continues to resonate with readers today.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Anne Sexton’s “The Inventory of Goodbye” is a powerful and emotional poem that explores the complex emotions surrounding the end of a relationship. With its vivid imagery and raw honesty, this classic piece of poetry has resonated with readers for decades, and continues to be a source of inspiration and comfort for those going through similar experiences.

At its core, “The Inventory of Goodbye” is a poem about loss. The speaker is taking stock of all the things that are leaving her life as a result of the end of her relationship, from the physical objects that remind her of her former partner to the intangible emotions and memories that she must now let go of. The poem is structured as a list, with each stanza beginning with the phrase “I have lost…” and ending with a description of something that has been taken away from the speaker.

One of the most striking things about this poem is the way that Sexton uses imagery to convey the speaker’s emotions. Throughout the poem, she employs a range of metaphors and symbols to represent the different aspects of loss that the speaker is experiencing. For example, in the first stanza, the speaker describes how she has lost “the glass vase that caught the ashes of the roses” – a powerful image that suggests the fragility of love and the inevitability of its end. Similarly, in the second stanza, the speaker talks about losing “the silver bowl of the moon” – a symbol of the beauty and mystery of the relationship that has now been lost.

As the poem progresses, the imagery becomes more intense and visceral, reflecting the depth of the speaker’s pain. In the third stanza, for example, the speaker describes how she has lost “the black stone and the milky vein that could cut through the heart” – a powerful image that suggests the pain and heartbreak that the end of the relationship has caused. Similarly, in the fourth stanza, the speaker talks about losing “the red clay that took the print of your foot” – a symbol of the physical presence of the partner that is now gone.

Throughout the poem, Sexton also uses repetition to emphasize the speaker’s sense of loss. The phrase “I have lost…” is repeated at the beginning of each stanza, creating a sense of rhythm and structure that reinforces the idea of the speaker taking stock of all the things that have been taken away from her. This repetition also serves to highlight the sheer number of things that the speaker has lost as a result of the end of the relationship, emphasizing the depth of her pain and the enormity of the task of moving on.

Despite the intense emotions that the poem conveys, there is also a sense of acceptance and resilience that runs through it. The speaker acknowledges the pain of the loss, but also recognizes that it is a necessary part of moving on and starting anew. In the final stanza, she says:

“I have lost you and all that I have lost is nothing I have regained myself and nothing is more precious.”

This final stanza is a powerful affirmation of the speaker’s strength and resilience in the face of loss. By acknowledging that she has regained herself, she is asserting her independence and her ability to move forward without her former partner. This is a message of hope and empowerment that has resonated with readers for decades, and continues to inspire those going through similar experiences.

In conclusion, Anne Sexton’s “The Inventory of Goodbye” is a powerful and emotional poem that explores the complex emotions surrounding the end of a relationship. Through its vivid imagery, raw honesty, and powerful repetition, the poem conveys the depth of the speaker’s pain and the enormity of the task of moving on. However, it also offers a message of hope and resilience, emphasizing the importance of regaining oneself and moving forward. This classic piece of poetry continues to be a source of inspiration and comfort for readers today, and is a testament to the enduring power of poetry to capture the complexities of the human experience.

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