'The Evil Seekers' by Anne Sexton

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We are born with luck
which is to say with gold in our mouth.
As new and smooth as a grape,
as pure as a pond in Alaska,
as good as the stem of a green bean--
we are born and that ought to be enough,
we ought to be able to carry on from that
but one must learn about evil,
learn what is subhuman,
learn how the blood pops out like a scream,
one must see the night
before one can realize the day,
one must listen hard to the animal within,
one must walk like a sleepwalker
on the edge of a roof,
one must throw some part of her body
into the devil's mouth.
Odd stuff, you'd say.
But I'd say
you must die a little,
have a book of matches go off in your hand,
see your best friend copying your exam,
visit an Indian reservation and see
their plastic feathers,
the dead dream.
One must be a prisoner just once to hear
the lock twist into his gut.
After all that
one is free to grasp at the trees, the stones,
the sky, the birds that make sense out of air.
But even in a telephone booth
evil can seep out of the receiver
and we must cover it with a mattress,
and then tear it from its roots
and bury it,
bury it.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Evil Seekers: A Dark and Compelling Journey into the Human Psyche

When it comes to poetry that delves into the darkest corners of the human soul, few writers can match the power and intensity of Anne Sexton. Throughout her career, Sexton explored themes of mental illness, addiction, and suicide with uncompromising honesty and raw emotion, and nowhere is this more evident than in her haunting masterpiece, "The Evil Seekers."

At its core, "The Evil Seekers" is a meditation on the nature of evil and our own capacity for it. Through a series of vivid and often disturbing images, Sexton leads the reader on a journey through the darkest corners of the human psyche, exploring the ways in which our own desires and fears can lead us down a path of self-destruction.

One of the most striking aspects of "The Evil Seekers" is the way in which Sexton uses language to create a sense of unease and disorientation. From the very first line, the poem is filled with unsettling and often grotesque imagery, as the speaker describes "fingers that twist / over the earthworms, / black and slippery" and "toenails that glitter / like polished bone."

These images, at once both vivid and surreal, create a sense of unease that builds throughout the poem, as the speaker describes a world in which "the dark comes alive" and "the trees are full of eyes." Through language that is both hypnotic and menacing, Sexton draws the reader into a world where nothing is as it seems, and even the most innocent-seeming objects can be imbued with a sense of danger and malevolence.

Yet for all its darkness and terror, "The Evil Seekers" is ultimately a deeply compassionate and human work. Through the character of the speaker, who is at once both terrified and fascinated by the evil that surrounds her, Sexton explores the complex and often contradictory nature of the human psyche.

As the poem progresses, the speaker becomes increasingly aware of her own capacity for evil, describing herself as "a witch with claws / who could kill in her sleep" and admitting that "I have tasted / the honey of evil." Yet even as she confronts these dark impulses within herself, the speaker remains sympathetic and deeply human, struggling to come to terms with the frightening and often contradictory forces that drive us all.

Throughout "The Evil Seekers," Sexton uses language with a masterful touch, creating a world that is at once both terrifyingly real and hauntingly surreal. Through her use of vivid and often grotesque images, she draws the reader into a world of darkness and terror, exploring the ways in which our own desires and fears can lead us down a path of self-destruction.

Yet ultimately, "The Evil Seekers" is a work of deep compassion and humanity, a testament to the power of poetry to illuminate even the darkest corners of the human soul. Whether read as a reflection on the nature of evil or as a meditation on the complexities of the human psyche, this haunting masterpiece is sure to leave a lasting impression on all who encounter it.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Anne Sexton’s “The Evil Seekers” is a haunting and powerful poem that delves into the darker aspects of human nature. Through vivid imagery and a masterful use of language, Sexton explores the ways in which people can be driven to seek out evil and destruction, even when they know it is wrong.

The poem begins with a description of a group of people who are “seeking evil.” These individuals are portrayed as being driven by a dark and malevolent force, one that compels them to do terrible things. The language used to describe them is ominous and foreboding, with phrases like “they come in the night” and “they are the ones who kill.”

As the poem progresses, Sexton delves deeper into the psyche of these evil seekers. She suggests that they are motivated by a desire for power and control, as well as a sense of pleasure in causing pain and suffering. This is evident in lines like “they love the taste of blood” and “they love the sound of screams.”

At the same time, however, Sexton also suggests that these evil seekers are not entirely in control of their actions. She writes that they are “possessed by a demon,” and that they are “driven by a force they cannot name.” This suggests that there is something beyond their own willpower that is driving them to seek out evil.

Throughout the poem, Sexton also uses a number of powerful metaphors and images to convey the sense of darkness and malevolence that surrounds these evil seekers. For example, she describes them as “black crows” and “vultures,” both of which are birds that are traditionally associated with death and decay. She also uses the image of a “poisoned well” to suggest that the evil seekers are spreading their corruption and malevolence throughout the world.

Despite the darkness and despair that permeates the poem, however, Sexton also offers a glimmer of hope. In the final stanza, she writes that “the good will come” and that “the light will shine.” This suggests that even in the face of evil and darkness, there is always the possibility of redemption and renewal.

Overall, “The Evil Seekers” is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that explores some of the darkest aspects of human nature. Through its vivid imagery and masterful use of language, it offers a haunting and unforgettable portrait of those who are driven to seek out evil and destruction. At the same time, however, it also suggests that there is always the possibility of redemption and renewal, even in the face of the most profound darkness.

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