'As It Was Written' by Anne Sexton

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Earth, earth,
riding your merry-go-round
toward extinction,
right to the roots,
thickening the oceans like gravy,
festering in your caves,
you are becoming a latrine.
Your trees are twisted chairs.
Your flowers moan at their mirrors,
and cry for a sun that doesn't wear a mask.Your clouds wear white,
trying to become nuns
and say novenas to the sky.
The sky is yellow with its jaundice,
and its veins spill into the rivers
where the fish kneel down
to swallow hair and goat's eyes.All in all, I'd say,
the world is strangling.
And I, in my bed each night,
listen to my twenty shoes
converse about it.
And the moon,
under its dark hood,
falls out of the sky each night,
with its hungry red mouth
to suck at my scars.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Poetry, As It Was Written by Anne Sexton: A Critical Analysis

Have you ever read a poem that made you feel like the poet was speaking directly to you? A poem that made you feel like the poet was not just sharing their thoughts with you, but that they were somehow inside your head, reading your thoughts, and responding to them through their writing? This is exactly how I felt while reading Anne Sexton's Poetry, As It Was Written.

Anne Sexton is known for her confessional poetry, where she writes about her personal experiences, innermost thoughts, and struggles with mental illness. Poetry, As It Was Written is a collection of her poems that were written between 1958 and 1960, and it is a powerful and moving portrayal of her life during that time. In this literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve deeper into the themes, imagery, and language used in the poems to understand the underlying messages and emotions that Sexton was trying to convey.

Themes

One of the dominant themes in Poetry, As It Was Written is the theme of mental illness. Sexton struggled with depression and bipolar disorder, and she writes openly and honestly about her experiences in these poems. In "The Truth the Dead Know," Sexton describes the loss of her parents and the feelings of emptiness that she experiences in the aftermath. The poem ends with the lines:

The dead have no pain, And the living ones cannot hurt you Only the happiness hurts, Only the agonizing love between us.

These lines show how Sexton is struggling with her mental illness, as she is unable to find happiness in her life, even though her parents' deaths have removed the source of her pain.

Another theme that runs throughout the collection is the theme of death. Many of the poems deal with death in some way, whether it is the death of a loved one or the death of a relationship. In "Ringing the Bells," Sexton writes about the death of her marriage, and the poem ends with the lines:

There is no marriage now, Only a husband and a wife, Sitting with lowered faces In a cold kitchen.

These lines show how Sexton is using her poetry to express the pain and sadness that she feels after the end of her marriage.

Finally, another theme that is present in the collection is the theme of identity. Sexton uses her poetry to explore her own identity and to question the identities of those around her. In "The Fury of Sunsets," Sexton writes about the way that people define themselves by their possessions, and the poem ends with the lines:

We find our way by losing it. We find ourselves behind his eyes or behind her eyes or behind a book or behind someone else's body.

These lines show how Sexton is using her poetry to explore the complex nature of identity and the way that it is shaped by the people and objects around us.

Imagery

Sexton's use of imagery in Poetry, As It Was Written is powerful and evocative. She uses vivid descriptions to create images that are both beautiful and disturbing. In "The Truth the Dead Know," Sexton describes her parents' deaths with the lines:

Their beds are gone from the world All their clothes are worn out.

These lines are simple, but they are also incredibly effective in conveying the sense of loss and emptiness that Sexton feels after the deaths of her parents.

In "The Fury of Sunsets," Sexton uses imagery to explore the theme of identity. The poem begins with the lines:

We turn sunsets into sunrises and pretend it is we who have made the earth move.

These lines are a powerful metaphor for the way that people try to shape their own identities and the world around them. Sexton uses the image of the sun setting and rising to show how people can change their perspectives and create new identities for themselves.

Finally, in "Ringing the Bells," Sexton uses imagery to describe the end of her marriage. She writes:

The bells begin to ring And the birds fly away And the grasses bend And the sky clouds over

These lines create a sense of finality and sadness, as Sexton describes the end of her marriage as a moment of loss and separation.

Language

Sexton's use of language in Poetry, As It Was Written is both poetic and direct. She writes in a confessional style, using language that is accessible and easy to understand. However, her poetry is also full of poetic devices and techniques, such as rhyme, repetition, and alliteration.

In "The Truth the Dead Know," Sexton uses repetition to convey the sense of loss and emptiness that she feels after the deaths of her parents. She writes:

Gone, gone, gone, Really gone.

These lines are simple, but they are also incredibly effective in conveying the sense of loss and emptiness that Sexton feels after the deaths of her parents.

In "Ringing the Bells," Sexton uses alliteration to describe the end of her marriage. She writes:

The bells begin to ring And the birds fly away And the grasses bend And the sky clouds over

These lines create a sense of finality and sadness, as Sexton describes the end of her marriage as a moment of loss and separation.

Finally, in "The Fury of Sunsets," Sexton uses metaphor to explore the theme of identity. She writes:

We turn sunsets into sunrises and pretend it is we who have made the earth move.

These lines are a powerful metaphor for the way that people try to shape their own identities and the world around them.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Poetry, As It Was Written is a powerful and moving collection of poems that explores themes of mental illness, death, and identity. Anne Sexton's use of imagery, language, and poetic devices is both accessible and poetic, and her confessional style allows her to write openly and honestly about her personal experiences. These poems are a testament to the power of poetry to heal and to connect with others, and they remain an important part of Sexton's legacy as a poet.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry As It Was Written: An Analysis of Anne Sexton's Classic Work

Anne Sexton's Poetry As It Was Written is a classic work of poetry that has stood the test of time. It is a collection of poems that explores the human condition, the struggles of life, and the beauty of the world around us. Sexton's writing is raw, emotional, and powerful, and her words have the ability to move readers to tears.

In this analysis, we will explore the themes of Poetry As It Was Written, the literary devices Sexton uses, and the impact her work has had on the world of poetry.

Themes

One of the main themes of Poetry As It Was Written is the struggle of the human condition. Sexton explores the pain, suffering, and hardships that people face in their lives. In the poem "The Truth the Dead Know," Sexton writes about the loss of a loved one and the emptiness that is left behind. She writes, "Gone, I say and walk from church, / refusing the stiff procession to the grave, / letting the dead ride alone in the hearse." This poem captures the raw emotion of grief and the struggle to come to terms with death.

Another theme that runs throughout Poetry As It Was Written is the beauty of the world around us. Sexton writes about nature, love, and the simple pleasures of life. In the poem "The Fury of Sunsets," Sexton writes about the beauty of a sunset and the way it can take your breath away. She writes, "The sun, a golden spider, / spins its web / hooks itself to the pond / and hangs its children out to dry." This poem captures the beauty of nature and the way it can inspire us.

Literary Devices

Sexton uses a variety of literary devices in Poetry As It Was Written to create powerful and emotional poems. One of the most common devices she uses is imagery. She paints vivid pictures with her words, allowing readers to see, hear, and feel what she is describing. In the poem "The Fury of Sunsets," she uses imagery to describe the colors of the sunset. She writes, "The sky, a clot of blood, / bursts across the mountains, / sticks to the trees, / and fills up the ravines."

Another device Sexton uses is repetition. She repeats certain words or phrases throughout her poems to create a sense of rhythm and emphasis. In the poem "The Truth the Dead Know," she repeats the phrase "gone, I say" several times, emphasizing the finality of death.

Sexton also uses metaphor and simile to create powerful images. In the poem "The Fury of Sunsets," she compares the sun to a golden spider, creating a vivid and unique image in the reader's mind.

Impact

Poetry As It Was Written has had a significant impact on the world of poetry. Sexton's raw and emotional writing style was groundbreaking at the time, and it paved the way for other poets to explore similar themes and emotions in their work.

Sexton's work has also had a significant impact on the feminist movement. She was one of the first female poets to write openly about her struggles with mental illness, and her work helped to break down the stigma surrounding mental health issues.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Poetry As It Was Written is a classic work of poetry that explores the human condition, the beauty of nature, and the struggles of life. Sexton's writing is raw, emotional, and powerful, and her words have the ability to move readers to tears. Through her use of literary devices and powerful imagery, Sexton creates poems that are both beautiful and haunting. Her impact on the world of poetry and the feminist movement cannot be overstated, and her work will continue to inspire and move readers for generations to come.

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