'Lessons In Hunger' by Anne Sexton

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"Do you like me?"
I asked the blue blazer.
No answer.
Silence bounced out of his books.
Silence fell off his tongue
and sat between us
and clogged my throat.
It slaughtered my trust.
It tore cigarettes out of my mouth.
We exchanged blind words,
and I did not cry,
and I did not beg,
blackness lunged in my heart,
and something that had been good,
a sort of kindly oxygen,
turned into a gas oven.
Do you like me?
How absurd!
What's a question like that?
What's a silence like that?
And what am I hanging around for,
riddled with what his silence said?

Editor 1 Interpretation

Lessons in Hunger by Anne Sexton

As a poet, Anne Sexton was known for her startling honesty, her vivid imagery, and her willingness to tackle even the most taboo subjects. In Lessons in Hunger, a collection of poems published in 1974, she explores the themes of hunger, desire, and loss with a fierce intensity that is both captivating and unsettling.

The Hunger of the Body

One of the most striking aspects of Lessons in Hunger is its preoccupation with the physical body, and the ways in which desire and hunger are embodied. In poems like "Young" and "The Big Heart," Sexton celebrates the sensual pleasures of the body, reveling in its vitality and energy. But there is a darker side to this hunger as well, as she confronts the inevitability of aging, illness, and death.

In "Her Kind," Sexton writes about the hunger for connection and belonging, portraying a speaker who is both alienated from society and desperately seeking a place within it. The poem's final lines, "I have been woman for a long time / beware my smile / I am treacherous with old magic," suggest the power and danger of this hunger, as well as the resilience and strength of the speaker who embodies it.

The Hunger of the Soul

But Lessons in Hunger is not just about the physical body. Sexton also explores the hunger of the soul, the longing for meaning and purpose that can sometimes feel just as intense as a physical craving. In "Wedding Ring," she writes about the desire for connection and intimacy that can be both fulfilling and painful, as the speaker struggles to reconcile herself to the limitations of her own emotions and desires.

Other poems, like "Abelard to Heloise" and "The Room of My Life," explore the hunger for knowledge and understanding, as the speaker grapples with philosophical and existential questions. These poems are full of intellectual and emotional hunger, as Sexton wrestles with the complexities of human experience and the limitations of language and understanding.

The Hunger of Loss

Perhaps the most powerful theme running through Lessons in Hunger is the hunger of loss, the feeling of emptiness and longing that comes from the absence of someone or something we love. In "The Truth the Dead Know," Sexton writes about the death of her parents, and the sense of disorientation and grief that comes from their absence:

I say this is no calamity. No.
This is only what has happened.
This is only what has happened.

The repetition of the final line suggests a sense of resignation and acceptance, as the speaker tries to come to terms with the reality of loss. But elsewhere in the collection, Sexton's grief is more raw and immediate, as in "Wanting to Die," where the speaker longs for the release of death as a way to escape the pain of loss:

I do it so it feels like hell.
I do it so it feels real.
I guess you could say I've a call.

These lines are shocking in their intensity and honesty, and they speak to the deep hunger that can come from the experience of loss and grief.

Conclusion

Lessons in Hunger is not an easy collection of poetry. It is raw, intense, and at times deeply unsettling. But it is also an incredibly powerful exploration of the human experience, of the ways in which we hunger for love, connection, understanding, and meaning. Sexton's poetry is both provocative and profound, and it speaks to the essential hunger that lies at the heart of human existence.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry Lessons in Hunger: A Masterpiece by Anne Sexton

Anne Sexton, the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, is known for her confessional style of writing. Her poetry is deeply personal, often exploring themes of mental illness, sexuality, and death. One of her most famous works, Poetry Lessons in Hunger, is a collection of poems that delves into the complexities of the human experience. In this article, we will analyze and explain the significance of Poetry Lessons in Hunger.

The collection is divided into three sections: "Lessons in Hunger," "Lessons in Love," and "Lessons in Suicide." Each section explores a different aspect of human existence, and the poems within each section are thematically linked. The first section, "Lessons in Hunger," is perhaps the most powerful. It deals with the physical and emotional hunger that drives us as human beings. Sexton explores the idea that we are all hungry for something, whether it be love, success, or simply a sense of purpose.

In the poem "The Starry Night," Sexton writes about the hunger for beauty and transcendence. She describes the night sky as a "blackboard of stars," and wonders if there is a "teacher up there" who can teach her the secrets of the universe. The poem is a meditation on the human desire for knowledge and understanding, and the hunger that drives us to seek it out.

Another powerful poem in this section is "The Fury of Sunsets." In this poem, Sexton explores the hunger for love and connection. She describes the sunset as a "fury of oranges and yellows and reds," and wonders if there is someone out there who can "match the colors" of her own emotions. The poem is a poignant reminder of the human need for companionship and intimacy.

The second section of the collection, "Lessons in Love," is perhaps the most personal. Sexton explores her own relationships and experiences with love, and the poems in this section are deeply confessional. In "The Break," she writes about the pain of a failed relationship, and the sense of loss that comes with it. She describes the experience as a "break in the bone," a visceral image that captures the intensity of her emotions.

Another powerful poem in this section is "The Truth the Dead Know." In this poem, Sexton explores the idea that love can transcend death. She writes about the loss of her parents, and the sense of connection she still feels to them. The poem is a beautiful meditation on the power of love to endure even in the face of death.

The final section of the collection, "Lessons in Suicide," is perhaps the most controversial. Sexton was known for her struggles with mental illness, and the poems in this section are a reflection of her own experiences with depression and suicidal ideation. In "Wanting to Die," she writes about the desire to end her own life, and the sense of hopelessness that comes with it. The poem is a stark reminder of the devastating effects of mental illness.

Another powerful poem in this section is "The Addict." In this poem, Sexton explores the idea that addiction can be a form of suicide. She writes about the allure of drugs and alcohol, and the sense of escape they provide. The poem is a powerful commentary on the destructive nature of addiction.

Overall, Poetry Lessons in Hunger is a masterpiece of confessional poetry. Sexton's writing is raw and honest, and her exploration of the human experience is both powerful and poignant. The collection is a reminder of the complexities of the human condition, and the hunger that drives us as human beings. It is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the essence of our lives, and to help us make sense of the world around us.

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