'The Black Art' by Anne Sexton

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A woman who writes feels too much,
those trances and portents!
As if cycles and children and islands
weren't enough; as if mourners and gossips
and vegetables were never enough.
She thinks she can warn the stars.
A writer is essentially a spy.
Dear love, I am that girl.A man who writes knows too much,
such spells and fetiches!
As if erections and congresses and products
weren't enough; as if machines and galleons
and wars were never enough.
With used furniture he makes a tree.
A writer is essentially a crook.
Dear love, you are that man.Never loving ourselves,
hating even our shoes and our hats,
we love each other,

Editor 1 Interpretation

The Black Art by Anne Sexton

Anne Sexton's The Black Art is a powerful and haunting poem that delves deep into the darker recesses of the human psyche. It is a poem that explores the themes of madness, despair, and self-destruction. Sexton's use of language and imagery is masterful, and her ability to evoke emotions in her readers is nothing short of remarkable.

The poem begins with the line "A woman who writes feels too much," which sets the tone for the rest of the piece. This line suggests that the protagonist is someone who is deeply in touch with her emotions, and that this connection to her feelings is both a blessing and a curse. The woman in question is a poet, and she sees the act of writing as a way to exorcise the demons that haunt her.

The next few lines of the poem describe the process of writing, and the way that it can take the writer to some very dark places. Sexton uses images of blood and violence to describe the act of putting pen to paper, and the effect that it can have on the writer's psyche. She writes:

"I have written the black art and tell me who you are I am a woman who writes and who is trying to become a woman who writes."

These lines are powerful in their simplicity. They suggest that the act of writing is not something that comes easily to the protagonist, and that it is something that she is constantly struggling to master. The use of the term "black art" is particularly interesting, as it suggests that writing is a kind of magic, and that the act of putting words on paper can have a profound effect on the world around us.

As the poem progresses, the protagonist's mental state begins to deteriorate. She describes herself as "crazy" and "mad," and she talks about the way that her mind is constantly racing with thoughts and ideas. She writes:

"I am a woman who thinks sitting here day and night the sound of the typewriter chattering the sound of the dead baby on the floor"

These lines are particularly disturbing, as they suggest that the protagonist is experiencing some kind of mental breakdown. The image of the dead baby on the floor is particularly haunting, and it suggests that the writer is grappling with some very dark thoughts and emotions.

As the poem reaches its climax, the protagonist's thoughts turn to suicide. She writes:

"I have written the black art and I do not go back to sugar coated verse or to empty praise."

These lines suggest that the protagonist has given up on the idea of living a normal life, and that she sees suicide as the only way to escape the pain and suffering that she is experiencing. The use of the term "black art" again suggests that writing is a kind of magic, and that the protagonist sees the act of taking her own life as a way to transcend the limitations of the physical world.

In conclusion, The Black Art is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the darker aspects of the human psyche. Sexton's use of language and imagery is masterful, and her ability to evoke emotions in her readers is nothing short of remarkable. The poem is a testament to the power of writing, and to the way that it can help us to confront our deepest fears and desires. For anyone who has ever struggled with mental illness or has grappled with the darker aspects of their own psyche, this poem is a must-read.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Anne Sexton's "The Black Art" is a powerful and haunting poem that explores the darker aspects of the human psyche. Written in 1962, the poem is a reflection on the nature of creativity and the role of the artist in society. It is a deeply personal and confessional work that reveals Sexton's own struggles with mental illness and the creative process.

The poem is structured in three parts, each of which explores a different aspect of the black art. The first part is a meditation on the nature of creativity and the artist's relationship to the world. Sexton writes, "A woman who writes feels too much, / those trances and portents!" Here, she is acknowledging the intense emotional and psychological experience of the creative process. She goes on to describe the artist as a "witch" who "casts a spell" over her audience. This metaphorical language suggests that the artist has a kind of supernatural power to influence and shape the world around her.

The second part of the poem is a more personal reflection on Sexton's own struggles with mental illness. She writes, "I have done my hitch / over the plain houses, light by light: / lonely thing, twelve-fingered, out of mind." Here, she is describing the experience of being an outsider, someone who is different and misunderstood by society. The image of the "twelve-fingered" person is a powerful metaphor for the sense of alienation and isolation that many people with mental illness experience.

The final part of the poem is a kind of warning to the reader. Sexton writes, "Beware / beware / of the thing that is coming." Here, she is suggesting that there is a dark force at work in the world, a force that is capable of destroying the artist and the creative process. She goes on to describe this force as a kind of "black art" that can "turn you into a statue." This language suggests that the artist is in danger of losing her creative power and becoming trapped in a kind of stasis.

Overall, "The Black Art" is a powerful and deeply personal poem that explores the nature of creativity and the artist's relationship to the world. It is a work that is both haunting and beautiful, and it speaks to the universal human experience of struggle and triumph. Sexton's use of metaphorical language and her willingness to confront the darker aspects of the human psyche make this poem a true masterpiece of modern poetry.

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