'Some Foreign Letters' by Anne Sexton

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I knew you forever and you were always old,

soft white lady of my heart. Surely you would scold

me for sitting up late, reading your letters,

as if these foreign postmarks were meant for me.

You posted them first in London, wearing furs

and a new dress in the winter of eighteen-ninety.

I read how London is dull on Lord Mayor's Day,

where you guided past groups of robbers, the sad holes

of Whitechapel, clutching your pocketbook, on the way

to Jack the Ripper dissecting his famous bones.

This Wednesday in Berlin, you say, you will

go to a bazaar at Bismarck's house. And I

see you as a young girl in a good world still,

writing three generations before mine. I try

to reach into your page and breathe it back...

but life is a trick, life is a kitten in a sack.

This is the sack of time your death vacates.

How distant your are on your nickel-plated skates

in the skating park in Berlin, gliding past

me with your Count, while a military band

plays a Strauss waltz. I loved you last,

a pleated old lady with a crooked hand.

Once you read

Editor 1 Interpretation

Some Foreign Letters by Anne Sexton

Introduction

Some Foreign Letters is a collection of poems by the renowned American poet Anne Sexton. The collection was published in 1967, and it contains some of Sexton's most powerful and poignant works. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve into the themes of the collection, Sexton's use of language and form, and her unique style of poetry.

Themes

Some Foreign Letters deals with a variety of themes, ranging from love and loss to mental illness and suicide. Sexton was known for her confessional poetry, and this collection is no exception. Many of the poems in Some Foreign Letters are deeply personal, and they reveal Sexton's innermost thoughts and feelings.

One of the most prevalent themes in the collection is the theme of death. Many of the poems deal with death in one way or another, whether it be the death of a loved one or the contemplation of suicide. In "The Doctor of the Heart", for example, Sexton writes:

The day he died I went to his studio

and lay down on the couch

where he had slept.

I closed my eyes and pretended to die.

I pretended to feel

his hands on my neck.

This poem is a powerful meditation on death and the desire to escape from the pain of life. Sexton's use of language is particularly striking here, as she describes the imagined touch of the doctor's hands on her neck.

Another theme that runs throughout the collection is the theme of love. Sexton's poems about love are often bittersweet, tinged with sadness and longing. In "A Curse Against Love", Sexton writes:

May love be like a fisherman's horn

that can only annoy.

May love be like a barber's chair

that can only hold so much.

May love be like a window box

that holds no more than a little dirt.

In this poem, Sexton curses love, likening it to a horn that can only annoy, a chair that can only hold so much, and a window box that can only hold a little dirt. The poem is a poignant reflection on the pain of love and the disappointment that often accompanies it.

Language and Form

One of the things that sets Anne Sexton apart as a poet is her use of language and form. Sexton's poems are often confessional in nature, and her language is raw and powerful. Her use of imagery is particularly striking, as she paints vivid pictures with her words.

In "The Room of My Life", for example, Sexton writes:

The room of my life is bare

and the walls are painted white.

There is a table and a chair,

and a window with a view of the night.

The simplicity of this language belies the emotional weight of the poem. Sexton is able to convey a sense of loneliness and isolation with just a few words.

Sexton's use of form is also notable. Many of her poems are free verse, without a strict rhyme or meter. This allows her to experiment with language and form, and to convey her emotions in a more direct and visceral way.

Style

Anne Sexton's unique style of poetry has been called confessional, but it is more than that. Her poetry is deeply personal, but it also has a universal quality that speaks to readers of all backgrounds.

Sexton's style is characterized by her use of imagery and metaphor, her raw and powerful language, and her willingness to tackle taboo subjects such as mental illness, suicide, and sexuality. She was unafraid to confront the darker aspects of the human experience, and her poetry is all the more powerful for it.

Conclusion

Some Foreign Letters is a powerful collection of poems that showcases Anne Sexton's unique style and voice. The collection deals with themes of love, loss, and death, and Sexton's use of language and form is striking throughout. Her poetry is deeply personal, but it also has a universal quality that resonates with readers to this day. Some Foreign Letters is a testament to Sexton's talent as a poet, and it remains a classic of American literature.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Some Foreign Letters: A Masterpiece of Anne Sexton

Anne Sexton, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, is known for her confessional style of writing. Her poems are often autobiographical, and she uses her personal experiences to explore universal themes of love, death, and mental illness. One of her most famous works, Poetry Some Foreign Letters, is a collection of poems that showcases her unique style and powerful voice.

The collection was published in 1971, and it contains 25 poems that are divided into three sections. The first section, titled "Some Foreign Letters," contains 11 poems that are written in the form of letters. The second section, titled "The Awful Rowing Toward God," contains 8 poems that are more introspective and spiritual in nature. The final section, titled "Transformations," contains 6 poems that are based on fairy tales and myths.

In this analysis, we will explore the themes and motifs that run throughout Poetry Some Foreign Letters and examine how Sexton uses language and imagery to convey her message.

Themes and Motifs

One of the most prominent themes in Poetry Some Foreign Letters is the search for identity. Sexton often writes about her own struggles with mental illness and how it has affected her sense of self. In the poem "The Addict," she writes:

"I am the addict and I am the pusher I am the whore and I am the customer"

Here, Sexton is exploring the idea that addiction and self-destructive behavior can become a part of one's identity. She is also suggesting that there is a duality to our nature, and that we are both the victim and the perpetrator of our own actions.

Another theme that runs throughout the collection is the search for meaning and purpose in life. In the poem "The Truth the Dead Know," Sexton writes:

"For the first time there is nothing between us nothing that anymore resembles a task love is not a profession except that it sometimes appears to be"

Here, Sexton is suggesting that love and relationships can give our lives meaning, but they can also be a source of pain and confusion. She is exploring the idea that life is a journey, and that we are constantly searching for something to give our lives purpose.

Sexton also explores the theme of death and mortality in many of her poems. In "The Truth the Dead Know," she writes:

"The dead have no pity And the living have no mercy"

Here, Sexton is suggesting that death is a great equalizer, and that it is something that we all must face. She is also exploring the idea that the living can be cruel and indifferent to the suffering of others.

Language and Imagery

Sexton's use of language and imagery is one of the most striking aspects of Poetry Some Foreign Letters. She often uses vivid and visceral language to convey her message. In the poem "The Room of My Life," she writes:

"The room of my life is bare and a cruel wind polishes the knobs of the dresser where I have written: 'Age, die young.'"

Here, Sexton is using the image of a bare room and a cruel wind to convey a sense of emptiness and despair. The phrase "Age, die young" is a powerful statement about the fear of growing old and the desire to escape the inevitability of death.

Sexton also uses imagery from fairy tales and myths to explore universal themes. In the poem "The Frog Prince," she writes:

"I have kissed the frog that was once a prince and he has become a frog again"

Here, Sexton is using the image of the frog prince to explore the idea of transformation and the loss of innocence. She is suggesting that we can never go back to the way things were, and that we must accept the changes that life brings.

Conclusion

Poetry Some Foreign Letters is a powerful and moving collection of poems that showcases Anne Sexton's unique style and powerful voice. Through her use of language and imagery, she explores universal themes of love, death, and the search for identity and meaning. Her poems are deeply personal and introspective, but they also speak to the human experience in a profound and universal way. If you are a fan of poetry, or if you are looking for a powerful and thought-provoking read, then Poetry Some Foreign Letters is a must-read.

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