'Clothes' by Anne Sexton
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Put on a clean shirt
before you die, some Russian said.
Nothing with drool, please,
no egg spots, no blood,
no sweat, no sperm.
You want me clean, God,
so I'll try to comply.The hat I was married in,
will it do?
White, broad, fake flowers in a tiny array.
It's old-fashioned, as stylish as a bedbug,
but is suits to die in something nostalgic.And I'll take
my painting shirt
washed over and over of course
spotted with every yellow kitchen I've painted.
God, you don't mind if I bring all my kitchens?
They hold the family laughter and the soup.For a bra
(need we mention it?),
the padded black one that my lover demeaned
when I took it off.
He said, "Where'd it all go?"And I'll take
the maternity skirt of my ninth month,
a window for the love-belly
that let each baby pop out like and apple,
the water breaking in the restaurant,
making a noisy house I'd like to die in.For underpants I'll pick white cotton,
the briefs of my childhood,
for it was my mother's dictum
that nice girls wore only white cotton.
If my mother had lived to see it
she would have put a WANTED sign up in the post office
for the black, the red, the blue I've worn.
Still, it would be perfectly fine with me
to die like a nice girl
smelling of Clorox and Duz.
Being sixteen-in-the-pants
I would die full of questions.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Poetry in Clothes: A Critical Analysis of Anne Sexton's Work
Anne Sexton was an American poet and writer, who is best known for her confessional poetry. Her works were considered radical and controversial, as she tackled personal and taboo themes in her writing. In her poem "Clothes," Sexton uses the metaphor of clothing to explore the concept of identity and the ways in which we present ourselves to the world.
The Literal Analysis
The poem begins with the speaker describing a "black dress" that she has owned for years. She then goes on to describe various other articles of clothing, each with their own symbolic significance. For example, she mentions a "red wool suit" that she wore while attending her father's funeral. She also describes a "pink gingham dress" that she wore as a child, and which she still associates with innocence and purity.
As the poem progresses, the speaker begins to delve deeper into the idea of clothing as a metaphor for identity. She asks, "what are you hiding?" and notes that clothing can be used to "disguise" or "reveal" aspects of oneself. She also notes that clothing can be used to "express" one's identity or to "change" it.
The poem ends with the speaker acknowledging that clothing is ultimately a "mask" that we wear, and that our true selves are often hidden beneath the surface. She notes that even when we are naked, we are still wearing the "clothes of flesh."
The Symbolic Analysis
While the poem is ostensibly about clothing, it is clear that Sexton is using this metaphor to explore deeper themes of identity and self-expression. The black dress that the speaker describes at the beginning of the poem can be seen as a symbol of mourning or grief. The fact that it has been owned for many years suggests that the speaker has experienced loss and is still carrying the weight of that experience with her.
The red wool suit that the speaker wears to her father's funeral can be seen as a symbol of power and authority. It is a formal and conservative choice, suggesting that the speaker is trying to present herself in a certain way. However, the fact that she chooses to wear it to a funeral also suggests that she is attempting to mask her true emotions and grief.
The pink gingham dress that the speaker associates with innocence and purity can be seen as a symbol of childhood and nostalgia. The fact that she still remembers it so vividly suggests that it holds a special significance for her.
The idea that clothing can be used to "disguise" or "reveal" aspects of oneself is a powerful one. It suggests that we have control over how we present ourselves to the world, and that we can choose to reveal or conceal different parts of our identity depending on the situation. This idea is particularly relevant in a society that places so much emphasis on appearance and first impressions.
The idea that clothing can be used to "express" one's identity or to "change" it is also significant. It suggests that we have the power to shape our own identity and to present ourselves in a way that is authentic to who we are. At the same time, it acknowledges that our identity is not fixed, and that we are constantly evolving and changing.
The final lines of the poem are particularly powerful. The idea that even when we are naked, we are still wearing the "clothes of flesh" suggests that our true selves are always hidden beneath the surface. It acknowledges the complexity of the human experience, and the fact that we are all struggling to find our place in the world.
Conclusion
In "Clothes," Anne Sexton uses the metaphor of clothing to explore themes of identity, self-expression, and the complexity of the human experience. While the poem is deceptively simple, it is packed with symbolism and deeper meaning. By the end of the poem, the reader is left with a sense of the fragility and complexity of the human psyche, and the ways in which we are all struggling to find our place in the world.
Overall, "Clothes" is a powerful and thought-provoking poem that speaks to the universal human experience. It is a testament to Anne Sexton's skill as a poet, and her ability to use language to explore the deepest and most profound aspects of the human experience.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Poetry Clothes: An Analysis of Anne Sexton's Masterpiece
Anne Sexton, one of the most celebrated poets of the 20th century, is known for her confessional style of writing. Her poems are raw, honest, and often deal with themes of mental illness, death, and sexuality. In her poem "Poetry Clothes," Sexton explores the idea of poetry as a form of clothing that one can wear to hide their true self. This 2000-word analysis will delve into the meaning behind Sexton's words and the significance of this poem in the context of her body of work.
The poem begins with the lines, "I am wearing my leaden pelican / the leaden pelican that hides my heart." The leaden pelican is a metaphor for the speaker's poetry, which she wears like a cloak to shield herself from the world. The pelican is a bird that is known for its ability to store food in its beak, and in this context, it represents the speaker's ability to store her emotions and thoughts in her poetry. The leaden quality of the pelican suggests that the speaker's poetry is heavy and burdensome, perhaps even suffocating.
The next stanza reads, "I am walking in my poetry shoes / just as others walk in their money." Here, Sexton draws a comparison between poetry and money, suggesting that both can be used as a form of status symbol. Just as some people wear expensive shoes to show off their wealth, the speaker wears her poetry as a way of demonstrating her intellectual and emotional depth. However, the use of the word "walking" suggests that the speaker is not entirely comfortable in her poetry shoes. She is aware that her poetry is a form of performance, and she is constantly aware of the eyes that are watching her.
The third stanza reads, "Hide, old poet, from the moony world, / the hypocritical world, / the world of your own tongue and your own memory." Here, Sexton urges the speaker to hide from the world, to retreat into her own thoughts and memories. The use of the word "moony" suggests that the world is fickle and changeable, and that the speaker's poetry is a way of protecting herself from its whims. The world is also described as "hypocritical," suggesting that the speaker sees through the facades that people put up to hide their true selves.
The fourth stanza reads, "Hide from the snarling dogs and the bloodhounds, / from the rheumy-eyed critics who never sleep." Here, Sexton describes the world as a hostile place, full of people who are eager to tear the speaker down. The "snarling dogs and the bloodhounds" represent the critics and the public who are always ready to pounce on any weakness they see in the speaker's poetry. The "rheumy-eyed critics" are those who are always watching, waiting for the speaker to slip up. The use of the word "never" suggests that the speaker is always under scrutiny, and that there is no escape from the critical eye of the world.
The fifth stanza reads, "Hide from the boxes of your own words, / from the fevers of your own pen." Here, Sexton suggests that the speaker's poetry is a form of confinement, that the boxes of her own words are like a prison that she cannot escape from. The "fevers of your own pen" suggest that the act of writing is a feverish, obsessive one, and that the speaker is consumed by her own words. The use of the word "own" suggests that the speaker's poetry is a deeply personal thing, and that she is unable to distance herself from it.
The sixth and final stanza reads, "Hide, old poet, from the outside world, / from the inside world, from yourself." Here, Sexton suggests that the speaker's poetry is a way of hiding from herself, that it is a form of self-deception. The use of the word "old" suggests that the speaker has been wearing her poetry clothes for a long time, and that she is tired of the act. The repetition of the word "world" suggests that the speaker is trapped between two worlds, unable to escape from either.
In conclusion, "Poetry Clothes" is a powerful and evocative poem that explores the idea of poetry as a form of clothing that one can wear to hide their true self. Sexton's use of metaphor and imagery is masterful, and she manages to convey a sense of the speaker's isolation and desperation. The poem is significant in the context of Sexton's body of work, as it deals with many of the same themes that she explored throughout her career. Overall, "Poetry Clothes" is a masterpiece of confessional poetry, and a testament to Sexton's talent as a writer.
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