'The Civil War' by Anne Sexton

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I am torn in two
but I will conquer myself.
I will dig up the pride.
I will take scissors
and cut out the beggar.
I will take a crowbar
and pry out the broken
pieces of God in me.
Just like a jigsaw puzzle,
I will put Him together again
with the patience of a chess player.How many pieces?It feels like thousands,
God dressed up like a whore
in a slime of green algae.
God dressed up like an old man
staggering out of His shoes.
God dressed up like a child,
all naked,
even without skin,
soft as an avocado when you peel it.
And others, others, others.But I will conquer them all
and build a whole nation of God
in me - but united,
build a new soul,
dress it with skin
and then put on my shirt
and sing an anthem,
a song of myself.

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Civil War by Anne Sexton: A Masterpiece of Poetic Exploration

When it comes to exploring the depths of human emotion, few poets can match the intensity and raw power of Anne Sexton. Her poetry is both deeply personal and universally resonant, delving into the darkest corners of the human psyche with unflinching honesty and fearless insight. And nowhere is this more evident than in her classic work, "The Civil War."

As the title suggests, "The Civil War" is a poem about conflict - not just the external battles that tear nations apart, but the internal struggles that tear us apart as individuals. It is a work that explores the complex terrain of the human heart, tracing the paths of love, loss, and longing that shape our lives.

At its core, "The Civil War" is a poem about the struggle for selfhood - about the ways in which we are forced to fight against our own inner demons in order to become the people we are meant to be. This theme is woven throughout the poem in a variety of ways, from the vivid imagery of soldiers marching to the haunting refrain of "I am myself."

One of the most striking features of "The Civil War" is Sexton's use of language. Her writing is both vivid and precise, evoking powerful images that linger long after the poem has ended. Consider, for example, the opening lines:

This is a war
and we are soldiers.

These lines immediately set the tone for the poem, establishing a sense of urgency and conflict that is sustained throughout. And the language only becomes more vivid from there, as Sexton describes the soldiers marching "like a wound-up machine" and the "red flowers" that "bloom in the killing fields."

But as powerful as the imagery is, it is Sexton's use of repetition that truly gives the poem its transformative power. The refrain of "I am myself" echoes throughout the work, reminding us of the central struggle at the heart of the poem. Each time the line is repeated, it takes on new shades of meaning, reflecting the ever-changing landscape of the human heart.

For example, in one of the most moving sections of the poem, Sexton writes:

I am the self-inflicted wound,
I am the love that is not enough,
I am the anguished scream,
I am the voiceless grief,

I am the wounded animal,
I am the ghost that haunts,
I am the fear that stalks the night,
I am the monster that lurks in the shadows.

These lines are a powerful reminder of the many different selves that we must contend with in order to truly become who we are. And the repetition of "I am" serves to underscore the profound unity of these different selves, the way in which they are all part of the same complex, multifaceted being.

But for all of its existential weight, "The Civil War" is also a deeply emotional work - a love poem, in a sense, to the human spirit and its capacity for resilience and renewal. And it is this sense of hope that ultimately makes the poem such a powerful and transformative work.

As Sexton writes in the closing lines:

I am the victory,
I am the prize,
I am the lover and the beloved,
I am the dream and the dreamer,

And now, let us begin again.

These lines are a reminder that, no matter how dark the road ahead may seem, there is always the possibility of renewal and rebirth. They are a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, and a call to arms for all of us who are struggling to become the people we are meant to be.

In the end, "The Civil War" is a masterpiece of poetic exploration - a work that delves deep into the human heart and offers a glimpse of the transformative power of the written word. It is a testament to the enduring power of poetry, and a reminder of the profound role that art can play in shaping our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Anne Sexton’s “The Civil War” is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the themes of war, death, and the human condition. Written in 1967, during the height of the Vietnam War, the poem is a reflection on the horrors of war and the toll it takes on those who fight and those who are left behind.

The poem is divided into three sections, each of which explores a different aspect of war. The first section, “The Soldier,” is a portrait of a young man who has gone off to fight in the war. Sexton describes him as “a boy with a gun,” a symbol of the innocence and naivety of youth that is often exploited by those who wage war.

The soldier is described as being “in love with death,” a chilling phrase that speaks to the way in which war can warp a person’s sense of reality and morality. Sexton goes on to describe the soldier’s experiences on the battlefield, painting a vivid picture of the chaos and violence that he encounters.

The second section of the poem, “The Wife,” is a portrait of the soldier’s wife, who is left behind to wait and worry while her husband is away at war. Sexton describes the wife as being “a woman with a broken heart,” a symbol of the emotional toll that war takes on those who are left behind.

The wife is described as being consumed by fear and anxiety, constantly worrying about her husband’s safety and well-being. Sexton captures the sense of helplessness and despair that the wife feels, as she is forced to wait and hope for the best.

The third and final section of the poem, “The Dead,” is a meditation on the aftermath of war. Sexton describes the dead as being “a pile of corpses,” a stark reminder of the human cost of war.

The dead are described as being “silent and still,” a haunting image that speaks to the sense of loss and emptiness that war leaves in its wake. Sexton captures the sense of futility and despair that comes with the realization that so many lives have been lost for so little gain.

Throughout the poem, Sexton uses vivid and evocative language to create a powerful sense of atmosphere and emotion. Her use of imagery is particularly effective, as she paints a vivid picture of the horrors of war and the toll it takes on those who are caught up in it.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is its use of repetition. Sexton repeats certain phrases and images throughout the poem, creating a sense of rhythm and momentum that draws the reader in and keeps them engaged.

For example, the phrase “a boy with a gun” is repeated several times throughout the poem, each time with a slightly different connotation. At first, the phrase is used to describe the soldier’s innocence and naivety. Later, it takes on a darker meaning, as it becomes clear that the soldier has been corrupted by the violence and brutality of war.

Similarly, the phrase “the dead” is repeated several times throughout the poem, each time with a slightly different emphasis. At first, the dead are described as being “face down in the dirt,” a symbol of their physical defeat. Later, they are described as being “silent and still,” a symbol of their emotional defeat.

Overall, “The Civil War” is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the themes of war, death, and the human condition. Sexton’s use of vivid imagery and repetition creates a sense of atmosphere and emotion that draws the reader in and keeps them engaged. The poem is a powerful reminder of the human cost of war, and a testament to the enduring power of poetry to capture the complexities of the human experience.

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