'The Angel Food Dogs' by Anne Sexton
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Leaping, leaping, leaping,
down line by line,
growling at the cadavers,
filling the holy jugs with their piss,
falling into windows and mauling the parents,
but soft, kiss-soft,
and sobbing sobbing
into their awful dog dish.No point? No twist for you
in my white tunnel?
Let me speak plainly,
let me whisper it from the podium--Mother, may I use your pseudonym?
May I take the dove named Mary
and shove out Anne?
May I take my check book, my holographs,
my eight naked books,
and sign it Mary, Mary, Mary
full of grace?
I know my name is not offensive
but my feet hang in the noose.
I want to be white.
I want to be blue.
I want to be a bee digging into an onion heart,
as you did to me, dug and squatted
long after death and its fang.Hail Mary, full of me,
Nibbling in the sitting room of my head.
Mary, Mary, virgin forever,
whore forever,
give me your name,
give me your mirror.
Boils fester in my soul,
so give me your name so I may kiss them,
and they will fly off,
nameless
but named,
and they will fly off like angel food dogs
with thee
and with thy spirit.
Let me climb the face of my kitchen dog
and fly off into my terrified years.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Angel Food Dogs: A Critique of Anne Sexton's Dark Poetry
Anne Sexton's The Angel Food Dogs is a dark and disturbing poem that explores themes of death, loneliness, and the search for redemption. Through her vivid and haunting imagery, Sexton presents a world that is both beautiful and terrible, a place where life and death are inextricably intertwined. In this essay, I will explore the themes and motifs that run through the poem, examining the use of language, imagery and symbolism to create a powerful and evocative work of poetry.
The Power of Language
One of the most striking features of The Angel Food Dogs is the power of the language used by Sexton. From the very first line, the poem grabs the reader's attention with its vivid imagery and striking metaphors. "The angel food dogs," she writes, "are falling from the sky like rain." This opening line sets the tone for the rest of the poem, drawing the reader into a world that is both strange and compelling.
Throughout the poem, Sexton's language is rich and evocative, full of vivid imagery that brings the world she is describing to life. She writes of "the flesh of the world" and "the bones of the sky," using language that is both sensual and macabre. This combination of beauty and horror creates a sense of unease in the reader, drawing us deeper into the poem and its themes.
Death and Redemption
At its core, The Angel Food Dogs is a poem about death and redemption. Sexton explores the idea that death is not the end, but rather a gateway to something else, something beyond our understanding. "For what is death," she writes, "but a door, a thing we all must pass through?" This idea of death as a doorway is a recurring motif throughout the poem, representing the idea that there is something beyond this life, something that we can only glimpse in our dreams and our fantasies.
But the poem is not just about death; it is also about the search for redemption. Throughout the poem, Sexton draws on religious imagery and symbolism, presenting death as a kind of baptism, a way of washing away the sins of the past. She writes of "the angel of death" and "the wings of redemption," using language that is rich in religious connotations.
The Loneliness of the Human Condition
Another recurring theme in The Angel Food Dogs is the idea of loneliness, the sense of isolation that is at the heart of the human condition. Sexton explores this idea through her use of imagery, presenting a world that is both beautiful and desolate, a place where human beings are alone in the face of overwhelming forces.
This sense of loneliness is reflected in the character of the poet herself, who is presented as a kind of observer, a witness to the beauty and the horror of the world around her. "I am the poet of the world," she writes, "and the world is lonely." This idea of the poet as a lonely figure, standing apart from the world she describes, is a recurring motif throughout the poem.
Conclusion
In conclusion, The Angel Food Dogs is a powerful and evocative work of poetry that explores themes of death, redemption, and the loneliness of the human condition. Through her use of language, imagery and symbolism, Sexton presents a world that is both beautiful and terrible, a place where life and death are inextricably intertwined. By drawing on religious themes and motifs, she suggests that death is not the end, but rather a gateway to something else, something beyond our understanding. And by presenting the poet as a lonely figure, she invites us to consider our own place in the world, and the meaning that we attach to our lives. Overall, The Angel Food Dogs is a work of poetry that is both challenging and rewarding, a testament to the power of language and the enduring appeal of the poetic imagination.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Angel Food Dogs: A Poem of Redemption and Hope
Anne Sexton's "The Angel Food Dogs" is a poem that speaks to the human condition, our struggles, and our search for redemption. It is a poem that is both dark and hopeful, a poem that speaks to the power of love and the possibility of transformation.
The poem begins with a description of a group of dogs who are "angel food dogs," dogs who have been bred to be sacrificed to the angels. These dogs are described as "white as snow," with "eyes like stars," and "wings like eagles." They are beautiful and pure, and yet they are destined for sacrifice.
The dogs are then contrasted with the speaker, who is described as "a woman with a hairy chin." The speaker is not beautiful or pure, but rather flawed and imperfect. She is a woman who has made mistakes, who has sinned, and who is searching for redemption.
The poem then takes a dark turn, as the speaker describes her own experiences with sacrifice. She speaks of being "sacrificed to the gods of the city," of being "sacrificed to the gods of love," and of being "sacrificed to the gods of the night." These sacrifices have left her wounded and scarred, but they have also taught her the power of love and the possibility of redemption.
The poem then shifts to a more hopeful tone, as the speaker describes a vision of the angel food dogs being transformed. She sees them "running in the fields of heaven," no longer destined for sacrifice but rather free and happy. This transformation is a metaphor for the speaker's own transformation, as she too is seeking to be free from the sacrifices of her past and to find happiness and redemption.
The poem ends with a powerful image of the speaker being lifted up by the angel food dogs, carried away to a place of peace and happiness. This image is a symbol of the power of love and the possibility of transformation, a reminder that even in the darkest of times there is always hope.
Overall, "The Angel Food Dogs" is a powerful and moving poem that speaks to the human condition and our search for redemption. It is a poem that is both dark and hopeful, a poem that reminds us of the power of love and the possibility of transformation. It is a poem that speaks to the heart and soul of every human being, and it is a poem that will continue to resonate with readers for generations to come.
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