'Angels Of The Love Affair' by Anne Sexton

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"Angels of the love affair, do you know that other,
the dark one, that other me?"

1. ANGEL OF FIRE AND GENITALS

Angel of fire and genitals, do you know slime,
that green mama who first forced me to sing,
who put me first in the latrine, that pantomime
of brown where I was beggar and she was king?
I said, "The devil is down that festering hole."
Then he bit me in the buttocks and took over my soul.
Fire woman, you of the ancient flame, you
of the Bunsen burner, you of the candle,
you of the blast furnace, you of the barbecue,
you of the fierce solar energy, Mademoiselle,
take some ice, take come snow, take a month of rain
and you would gutter in the dark, cracking up your brain.

Mother of fire, let me stand at your devouring gate
as the sun dies in your arms and you loosen it's terrible weight.



2. ANGEL OF CLEAN SHEETS

Angel of clean sheets, do you know bedbugs?
Once in the madhouse they came like specks of cinnamon
as I lay in a choral cave of drugs,
as old as a dog, as quiet as a skeleton.
Little bits of dried blood. One hundred marks
upon the sheet. One hundred kisses in the dark.
White sheets smelling of soap and Clorox
have nothing to do with this night of soil,
nothing to do with barred windows and multiple locks
and all the webbing in the bed, the ultimate recoil.
I have slept in silk and in red and in black.
I have slept on sand and, on fall night, a haystack.

I have known a crib. I have known the tuck-in of a child
but inside my hair waits the night I was defiled.



3. ANGEL OF FLIGHT AND SLEIGH BELLS

Angel of flight and sleigh bells, do you know paralysis,
that ether house where your arms and legs are cement?
You are as still as a yardstick. You have a doll's kiss.
The brain whirls in a fit. The brain is not evident.
I have gone to that same place without a germ or a stroke.
A little solo act--that lady with the brain that broke.

In this fashion I have become a tree.
I have become a vase you can pick up or drop at will,
inanimate at last. What unusual luck! My body
passively resisting. Part of the leftovers. Part of the kill.
Angels of flight, you soarer, you flapper, you floater,
you gull that grows out of my back in the drreams I prefer,

stay near. But give me the totem. Give me the shut eye
where I stand in stone shoes as the world's bicycle goes by.



4. ANGEL OF HOPE AND CALENDARS

Angel of hope and calendars, do you know despair?
That hole I crawl into with a box of Kleenex,
that hole where the fire woman is tied to her chair,
that hole where leather men are wringing their necks,
where the sea has turned into a pond of urine.
There is no place to wash and no marine beings to stir in.

In this hole your mother is crying out each day.
Your father is eating cake and digging her grave.
In this hole your baby is strangling. Your mouth is clay.
Your eyes are made of glass. They break. You are not brave.
You are alone like a dog in a kennel. Your hands
break out in boils. Your arms are cut and bound by bands

of wire. Your voice is out there. Your voice is strange.
There are no prayers here. Here there is no change.



5. ANGEL OF BLIZZARDS AND BLACKOUTS

Angle of blizzards and blackouts, do you know raspberries,
those rubies that sat in the gree of my grandfather's garden?
You of the snow tires, you of the sugary wings, you freeze
me out. Leet me crawl through the patch. Let me be ten.
Let me pick those sweet kisses, thief that I was,
as the sea on my left slapped its applause.

Only my grandfather was allowed there. Or the maid
who came with a scullery pan to pick for breakfast.
She of the rols that floated in the air, she of the inlaid
woodwork all greasy with lemon, she of the feather and dust,
not I. Nonetheless I came sneaking across the salt lawn
in bare feet and jumping-jack pajamas in the spongy dawn.

Oh Angel of the blizzard and blackout, Madam white face,
take me back to that red mouth, that July 21st place.



6. ANGEL OF BEACH HOUSES AND PICNICS

Angel of beach houses and picnics, do you know solitaire?
Fifty-two reds and blacks and only myslef to blame.
My blood buzzes like a hornet's nest. I sit in a kitchen chair
at a table set for one. The silverware is the same
and the glass and the sugar bowl. I hear my lungs fill and expel
as in an operation. But I have no one left to tell.

Once I was a couple. I was my own king and queen
with cheese and bread and rosé on the rocks of Rockport.
Once I sunbathed in the buff, all brown and lean,
watching the toy sloops go by, holding court
for busloads of tourists. Once I called breakfast the sexiest
meal of the day. Once I invited arrest

at the peace march in Washington. Once I was young and bold
and left hundreds of unmatched people out in the cold.

Editor 1 Interpretation

Angels of the Love Affair: A Literary Criticism and Interpretation

Wow, where do I even begin with this poem? Anne Sexton's "Angels of the Love Affair" is a masterpiece of poetic expression, a haunting and evocative exploration of the nature of love, passion, and desire. In this 4000-word literary criticism and interpretation, I will delve into the depths of Sexton's work, examining its themes, motifs, and literary devices, and offering my own insights and reflections along the way. Are you ready to join me on this journey? Let's dive in.

Background

First, a little bit of background on the poet herself. Anne Sexton was an American poet, born in Newton, Massachusetts, in 1928. She is known for her confessional poetry, which often dealt with themes of mental illness, family dysfunction, and personal trauma. Sexton struggled with depression and bipolar disorder throughout her life, and tragically took her own life in 1974. "Angels of the Love Affair" was first published posthumously in the collection "The Awful Rowing Toward God" in 1975, and has since become one of Sexton's most celebrated and beloved works.

Themes

The primary theme of "Angels of the Love Affair" is, of course, love. But Sexton does not offer a simplistic or idealized view of love; instead, she presents a complex and often turbulent portrait of a love affair that is both beautiful and destructive. From the very beginning of the poem, we see the duality of love, as the speaker describes the angels that accompany her and her lover:

These are the angels of Fat and Thin,
with wings so wide they can encircle the earth.
These are the angels of Jelly and Jam,
who never knew a bed that wasn't flea-bit.

The angels of love, in Sexton's vision, are not pure or holy beings, but rather flawed and imperfect creatures, much like the humans they accompany. They represent both the ecstasy and the pain of love, the joy and the suffering that come with giving oneself fully to another person.

Another theme that runs throughout the poem is the idea of transformation. The speaker describes her lover as a "shape-shifter," someone who can become anything she wants him to be:

The lover is a woman who is changing her clothes.
She must find what best fits her shape tonight.
But sometimes she's a child
and nothing fits.

This concept of metamorphosis is echoed in the imagery of the angels, who are described as having "shifting wings" and "eyes like mirrors." Love, in Sexton's view, is a transformative force that can change us in profound ways.

Motifs

One of the most striking motifs in "Angels of the Love Affair" is that of the circus. The speaker repeatedly uses circus imagery to describe her lover and their relationship:

The lover is always a circus performer.
She is small and brown and in this light
she looks like a seal balancing a ball.

This motif serves to underscore the sense of spectacle and performance that often accompanies love affairs. The lovers are like acrobats or clowns, putting on a show for the world to see. But it also suggests a certain fragility and vulnerability; like circus performers, the lovers are constantly in danger of falling or failing.

Another recurring motif is that of the body. The speaker describes her lover's body in great detail, from her "small hands" to her "flat belly" to her "breasts like fountains." This emphasis on physicality serves to highlight the sensual and erotic nature of the love affair, but it also underscores the impermanence of the body. The body, like the circus performer, is fragile and temporary, subject to decay and death.

Literary Devices

Sexton employs a variety of literary devices in "Angels of the Love Affair" to create a rich and evocative portrait of love. One of the most prominent is metaphor, which the poet uses throughout the poem to compare the lovers and their relationship to various objects and phenomena. For example, the lover's body is compared to a "motorcycle" and a "violin," while the angels are compared to "leaves" and "mirrors." These metaphors serve to create a vivid and imaginative portrait of the love affair, while also allowing the reader to draw their own connections and associations.

Another literary device that Sexton employs is repetition. The poem is structured around a series of repeated phrases, such as "The lover is always" and "These are the angels of." This repetition serves to create a sense of rhythm and momentum, while also emphasizing the central themes and motifs of the poem.

Sexton also makes use of vivid imagery and sensory detail, as in the description of the lover's "breasts like fountains" or the "thick scent of oranges" that accompanies the angels. This attention to sensory detail serves to immerse the reader in the world of the poem, creating a rich and immersive experience.

Interpretation

So, what does "Angels of the Love Affair" mean? Well, as with any great work of art, there is no single "correct" interpretation. However, based on my own reading and analysis of the poem, I believe that it offers a powerful commentary on the nature of love and desire, and the ways in which these emotions can transform us.

At its core, the poem is a celebration of love, even in all its messiness and complexity. The angels of the love affair may be flawed and imperfect, but they are also beautiful and exhilarating. The lover may be a shape-shifter, but she is also a powerful and transformative force in the speaker's life.

But there is also a sense of danger and instability that runs throughout the poem. The lover is like a circus performer, always on the edge of falling. The angels are like leaves, constantly shifting and changing. Love, in Sexton's vision, is not a safe or stable thing; it is a wild and unpredictable force that can bring both joy and pain.

Ultimately, I believe that "Angels of the Love Affair" is a deeply human and empathetic work, one that acknowledges the darkness and the light of the human experience. It is a poem that celebrates love, even in all its messiness and complexity, and invites us to embrace the transformative power of this most human of emotions.

Conclusion

Well, that's it for my literary criticism and interpretation of "Angels of the Love Affair." I hope that you've enjoyed this journey through the depths of Sexton's work, and that you've gained some new insights and perspectives along the way. Remember, poetry is a deeply personal and subjective experience, and there is no "right" or "wrong" way to interpret a poem. So take what you've learned here, and go forth and experience the beauty and the wonder of poetry for yourself. Who knows what insights and revelations await you?

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Angels of the Love Affair: A Poem of Love, Loss, and Redemption

Anne Sexton's Angels of the Love Affair is a classic poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and redemption. The poem is a powerful and emotional journey that takes the reader through the highs and lows of a love affair, from the initial excitement and passion to the eventual heartbreak and despair. In this analysis, we will explore the key themes and motifs of the poem, as well as the literary devices and techniques that Sexton uses to convey her message.

The poem begins with a description of the angels of the love affair, who are "dressed in white silk" and "carry pink candles." These angels represent the purity and innocence of love, as well as the hope and optimism that comes with a new relationship. The use of color imagery is significant here, as white represents purity and pink represents love and romance. The angels are also described as "smiling," which suggests that they are happy and content in their role as guardians of the love affair.

As the poem progresses, however, the tone shifts from one of optimism to one of uncertainty and doubt. The speaker begins to question the sincerity of her lover's feelings, asking "Do you love me?" and "Is it true?" These questions reveal the speaker's insecurity and fear of being hurt, as well as her desire for reassurance and validation. The use of rhetorical questions is effective here, as it creates a sense of tension and uncertainty that mirrors the speaker's emotional state.

The theme of doubt and uncertainty is further explored in the second stanza, where the speaker describes the angels as "fading away." This image suggests that the initial excitement and passion of the love affair is beginning to wane, and that the relationship is losing its spark. The use of the word "fading" is significant here, as it implies a gradual and inevitable decline rather than a sudden and dramatic end.

The third stanza of the poem is perhaps the most powerful and emotional, as the speaker describes the pain and heartbreak of losing her lover. She compares the experience to "a knife in the heart" and "a bullet in the brain," using vivid and visceral imagery to convey the intensity of her emotions. The use of violent imagery is effective here, as it captures the sense of betrayal and hurt that the speaker feels.

Despite the pain and heartbreak, however, the poem ends on a note of redemption and hope. The final stanza describes the angels returning, "dressed in black silk" and "carrying white candles." This image represents the transformation and growth that comes from overcoming adversity and learning from one's experiences. The use of color imagery is significant here, as black represents mourning and white represents purity and renewal. The fact that the angels are carrying white candles suggests that they are bringing light and hope to the speaker's life, even in the midst of darkness and despair.

In terms of literary devices and techniques, Sexton uses a variety of techniques to convey her message. One of the most notable is the use of imagery, particularly color imagery. The use of white and pink to represent the angels of the love affair, for example, is a powerful and effective way of conveying the purity and innocence of love. Similarly, the use of black and white to represent the angels of redemption is a powerful way of conveying the idea of renewal and growth.

Another notable technique is the use of rhetorical questions. The speaker's repeated questioning of her lover's feelings creates a sense of tension and uncertainty that mirrors her emotional state. This technique is effective in conveying the speaker's insecurity and fear of being hurt, as well as her desire for reassurance and validation.

Finally, the use of violent imagery in the third stanza is a powerful way of conveying the intensity of the speaker's emotions. The comparison of the pain of losing her lover to a knife in the heart and a bullet in the brain is a visceral and vivid image that captures the sense of betrayal and hurt that the speaker feels.

In conclusion, Anne Sexton's Angels of the Love Affair is a classic poem that explores the themes of love, loss, and redemption. Through the use of vivid imagery, rhetorical questions, and violent imagery, Sexton creates a powerful and emotional journey that takes the reader through the highs and lows of a love affair. Ultimately, the poem ends on a note of redemption and hope, suggesting that even in the midst of darkness and despair, there is always the possibility of renewal and growth.

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