'Elizabeth Gone' by Anne Sexton

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1.You lay in the nest of your real death,
Beyond the print of my nervous fingers
Where they touched your moving head;
Your old skin puckering, your lungs' breath
Grown baby short as you looked up last
At my face swinging over the human bed,
And somewhere you cried,

Editor 1 Interpretation

Elizabeth Gone: A Journey Through Grief

Anne Sexton's poem "Elizabeth Gone" is a hauntingly beautiful elegy that explores the depths of grief and the complexities of the human psyche. Written in the aftermath of the suicide of her close friend Elizabeth Bishop, the poem is an intimate and deeply personal reflection on the nature of loss and the search for meaning in the face of tragedy.

At its core, "Elizabeth Gone" is an exploration of the human experience of grief. From the opening lines, Sexton plunges the reader into a world of pain and confusion, describing the "furious ache" that consumes her in the wake of Elizabeth's death. The poem is full of vivid and evocative language that captures the raw emotional intensity of grief, such as the image of "the darkened room" that becomes a "chamber of the heart".

But Sexton does not simply wallow in despair. Throughout the poem, she grapples with the idea of mortality, asking profound questions about the meaning of life and the nature of existence. In one particularly striking passage, she writes:

"I see her as a child, a girl, a full-grown woman, a wife, a mother, an old woman and I see her dead and I am speechless."

Here, Sexton is grappling with the fundamental paradox of human existence: that we are all simultaneously born to die. The image of Elizabeth at different stages of life underscores the fleeting nature of our time on this earth, while the final line - "and I am speechless" - speaks to the existential angst that this realization can provoke.

Of course, grief is not simply an intellectual exercise. It is a visceral, embodied experience that can feel all-consuming. In "Elizabeth Gone", Sexton captures this aspect of grief through her use of sensory language, describing the "scent of her hair" and the "feel of her skin" as if they were still present in the world. This creates a sense of disorientation and a blurring of the boundaries between life and death, as if Elizabeth's presence lingers on in a tangible way.

As the poem progresses, Sexton moves from the immediate aftermath of Elizabeth's death to a more contemplative mode of reflection. She muses on the ways that grief can change us, noting that "one is changed by what she has lost." Here, she is acknowledging the transformative power of loss, recognizing that even in the depths of despair, there remains the possibility for growth and change.

But even as Sexton grapples with these weighty themes, she never loses sight of the human element of the tragedy. In one of the poem's most poignant moments, she describes the way that Elizabeth's death has affected her friends:

"We, who have kept her company in the dark, are left with the dark."

Here, Sexton is acknowledging the way that grief can be isolating, even in the midst of community. The shared experience of loss does not necessarily lead to shared understanding, and each individual must navigate their own path through the darkness.

Ultimately, "Elizabeth Gone" is a testament to the power of poetry to capture the complexity and nuance of the human experience. Through her masterful use of language and imagery, Sexton is able to convey the full range of emotions that attend the loss of a loved one, from despair to hope, from confusion to clarity. In the end, the poem is more than just a tribute to Elizabeth Bishop - it is a meditation on the nature of existence itself, and a reminder of the fragility and beauty of life.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Elizabeth Gone: A Poem of Loss and Grief

Anne Sexton's "Elizabeth Gone" is a haunting and deeply emotional poem that explores the themes of loss and grief. The poem is a tribute to Elizabeth Bishop, a fellow poet and close friend of Sexton's, who died in 1979. Through the use of vivid imagery, powerful metaphors, and a deeply personal voice, Sexton captures the pain and sadness of losing someone you love.

The Poem

The poem is divided into three stanzas, each with its own distinct tone and imagery. The first stanza sets the scene and establishes the mood of the poem. Sexton describes the "empty house" where Elizabeth used to live, and the "silent room" where she used to write. The imagery is stark and bleak, conveying a sense of emptiness and loss. The use of the word "gone" in the title and throughout the poem reinforces the idea that Elizabeth is no longer there, and that her absence is deeply felt.

The second stanza is more introspective, as Sexton reflects on her own feelings of grief and loss. She describes how she "cried for days" after Elizabeth's death, and how she still feels her presence in the world. The imagery in this stanza is more personal and emotional, as Sexton describes how she feels "like a child" without Elizabeth's guidance and support. The use of the metaphor of the "empty cup" reinforces the idea that Sexton feels a sense of emptiness and loss without Elizabeth in her life.

The final stanza is the most powerful and emotional of the poem. Sexton describes how she dreams of Elizabeth, and how she feels her presence in the world around her. The imagery in this stanza is vivid and surreal, as Sexton describes how Elizabeth "floats like a dead leaf" and "whispers like a ghost". The use of the metaphor of the "black hole" reinforces the idea that Elizabeth's absence is like a void in Sexton's life, and that she is struggling to come to terms with her loss.

Analysis

"Elizabeth Gone" is a deeply personal and emotional poem that explores the themes of loss and grief. The poem is a tribute to Elizabeth Bishop, a fellow poet and close friend of Sexton's, who died in 1979. Through the use of vivid imagery, powerful metaphors, and a deeply personal voice, Sexton captures the pain and sadness of losing someone you love.

The first stanza of the poem sets the scene and establishes the mood of the poem. Sexton describes the "empty house" where Elizabeth used to live, and the "silent room" where she used to write. The imagery is stark and bleak, conveying a sense of emptiness and loss. The use of the word "gone" in the title and throughout the poem reinforces the idea that Elizabeth is no longer there, and that her absence is deeply felt.

Overall, "Elizabeth Gone" is a deeply moving and emotional poem that captures the pain and sadness of losing someone you love. Through the use of vivid imagery, powerful metaphors, and a deeply personal voice, Sexton pays tribute to her friend Elizabeth Bishop and explores the universal themes of loss and grief. The poem is a testament to the power of poetry to express the deepest emotions and to help us come to terms with the most difficult experiences of our lives.

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